The ability to choose is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It is meant to be a blessing for us – to choose wisely and enter into fellowship with the Creator of the Universe is wonderful. But of course, if not wisely exercised choice will lead us away from God and often into hurting ourselves and our fellow man. An excerpt from my book (all scripture is from the NKJV):
The ability to choose is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. It is meant to be a blessing for us – to choose wisely and enter into fellowship with the Creator of the Universe is wonderful. But of course, if not wisely exercised choice will lead us away from God and often into hurting ourselves and our fellow man. An excerpt from my book (all scripture is from the NKJV):
John 15:4–5: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine,
you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Ephesians 5:7–9: “Therefore do not be partakers with
them. Walk in light. For you were once darkness, but
now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness,
and truth).”
Everyone makes thousands of choices each day. Most are small and
routine. Some are very significant. I heard an excellent sermon
years ago which pointed out that choices are the building blocks of
destiny. Abiding in Christ involves making many
good choices each day. Choices begin in the mind and end up in your
actions. With one thought at a time, one word at a time, and one choice
at a time, you sow and eventually reap your destiny.
Some of the most important choices you will make revolve around
what relationships and associations you establish. Monitor your
associations carefully. They generally predict or determine your future.
Note what the Bible says on this subject:
1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be deceived: ‘evil company
corrupts good habits.’”
1 Corinthians 5:6b: “Do you not know that a little leaven
leavens the whole lump?”
Proverbs 13:20: “He who walks with wise men will be
wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”
Proverbs 27:10 (NIV): “As iron sharpens iron, so one
person sharpens another.”
It has been said that by looking at your friends, you look into your
future. Choose your friends wisely. Close relationships and associations
provide insight into who you are now — and a preview into who you
will likely become. Friends can show you your weaknesses and
strengths, and they can lead you into excellence or mediocrity. Be
persistent in surrounding yourself with those who bring out the best in
you and who represent who you want to become.
The same is true for mentors or people you admire and respect.
Choose your mentors wisely. For example, do not try to learn how to be
a millionaire from someone who cannot balance their checkbook. Find
good mentors who have already successfully been where you want to go.
Another important choice concerns how you will spend your time.
If you have a goal you wish to achieve, you would be wise to ensure that
you are spending at least some time going in that direction each day.
Make a small step each day toward this goal, and don’t spend any time
on activities that take you in the opposite direction. Many people wish for
something but then make no effort to achieve it — or do
counterproductive things that take them away from their goals.
Remember these words, not definitively attributable to any one person
but no doubt true: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over
and over again and expecting a different result.”
Your thoughts, words, and choices have gotten you to where you
are today, and they will surely keep you there if you do not change
something. Proverbs 4:7 tells us to seek wisdom. If you wish to
accomplish something in life, increase your knowledge and wisdom in
that area by seeking mentors, or by reading their books. You can gain
many years of experience by reading a book written by someone who
has achieved what you are aspiring to.
One mistake that many people do is to make a choice without
thinking long term. If you’re going to take a significant action or make
a substantial change in your life, you should take time to envision the
future ramifications of that choice in your mind. You should mentally
strategize as if you were playing a game of chess: “If I do this, then this
will happen; and if I do that, then that will happen.” Choose your goals
wisely. As many have said, “You don’t want to climb the ladder only to
find out it was against the wrong building.”
If you are a parent, realize that children follow the examples they
see. The power of example is enormous. It is especially important that
you make good choices in the presence of the children you raise. Later
in life, when confronted with a challenging situation, they will tend to
do what they grew up seeing their parents do in similar situations. The
most powerful initial influence on a child is normally a parent. Exodus
20:5 makes clear that the law of God causes the sins of the father to be
visited upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those
who hate Him. It’s not God doing the visiting, but it can be the effect of
the example. God will not punish children for the sins of their parents
or vice versa. The example we see is the example we tend to follow.
Always remember how important your example is and choose to set
good examples for those you influence. And remember that when you
make a wrong choice, you have a God of mercy, love, and grace to
forgive you.
So what choices are you making every day? Are you exercising? Are
you studying? Are you giving your time, talent, and treasure to good
causes? Are you saving money each month? Are you sowing prayer,
generosity, and kindness into other people? Do you purposely choose
friends you want to be like? Do you date only those people you feel
would be good marriage partners, or are you carelessly associating with
people who might lead you the wrong way? Each day you are making
choices that will yield corresponding results.
Genesis 8:22 reads, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” In
Galatians 6:7–9, we learn that sowing and reaping is a law that will never
change, which is built into the natural world and spiritual world: “Do not
be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will
also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And
let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap
if we do not lose heart.” Sowing specific actions reaps related results.
Another very important choice you will make relates to your money.
An assessment of how you spend your money will reveal where your
priorities are. Money is very important. Having money is not a sin. The
love of money, however, is the root of all evil according to 1 Timothy
6:10.
Money can be a false God-replacement, so be careful. The real power
of money is in the opportunity to influence your life and the lives of
others for the better. Maybe you can send someone to college or help
the impoverished with food or housing through your generosity. The
generous soul will be watered and blessed according to Proverbs 11:25.
Let’s look at some other Scripture verses that relate to money and giving:
Malachi 3:10–12: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
that there may be food in my house, and try me now in
this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the
windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing
that there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I
will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will
not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine
fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts;
and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a
delightful land, says the Lord of hosts.”
Proverbs 3:9–10: “Honor the Lord with your possessions,
and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns
will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow
with new wine.”
Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you: good
measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running
over will be put into your bosom. For with the same
measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
2 Corinthians 9:6: “But this I say: He who sows sparingly
will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.”
Develop a giving lifestyle. While the New Testament mandate is to
cheerfully give as your heart leads, keeping the motive of love foremost,
a good yardstick to use in giving is the tithe. Seek to tithe or to give the
first tenth of your income or increase, and be willing to give offerings
beyond that. Tithing demonstrates God’s pre-eminence in your life. It
affirms that He has first place.
When you tithe and give offerings, God blesses you personally,
materially, and spiritually. You can never out-give God. And while you
should not give in order to get, it is highly likely that you will receive
more from God than you give. Remember not to give grudgingly, for
God’s blessings come to those who serve and give lovingly, liberally, and
cheerfully. If you are giving reluctantly, ask God to give you a greater
willingness to give.
Guard your eyes and yours ears. Be aware that television can
influence you the same way friends can. What we see in most television
shows or movies can be contrary to the teachings of God. Most of these
shows teach the value system of the world. Such values are opposite to
the value system of God. Young children may grow up believing that
the choices people make on television are acceptable. For example, if
children routinely watch television shows where people freely engage
in premarital or extramarital sex, they may well choose similarly if not
taught otherwise by parents, church, or school. Much of what is routinely
acceptable on television and in the movies these days is strictly forbidden
by God in His Word.
Another common theme of television and movies is revenge. But God
says to leave revenge to Him. It is wiser to use God’s principles than any
other principles you may have been taught or may encounter.
Be careful of extremes. Instead, choose moderation or balance. Sex is
good within the confines of marriage, but it is not good before or outside
marriage, or when it rules your life. A little wine may be good, depending
on your persuasions; but wine or other alcohol used excessively is
detrimental, and drunkenness is a sin. Things can become idols in your
life if you do not apply self-control. Even religion itself has been one of
the greatest justifications for evil in the history of humankind — e.g., the
Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and many radical or extremist
religious groups or factions. Patterns of evil have become so deeply
entrenched in this world over the thousands of years since Eden that
they are hardly recognizable as wrong anymore. What we consider
normal today would have made people cringe twenty years ago. The only
true source for the fulfillment of our needs — God — has grown dimmer
and dimmer; while the false replacements, which at best incompletely
satisfy our deepest needs, have grown louder and louder. They scream
at us from television, movies, the Internet, social media, and every part of
the world each day.
We can only sit and wonder what has been programmed into us over the
years and is influencing us subtly every day.
Prayer is critical, so make sure you do plenty of it. Make sure you
pray for things with the right motive — to give God glory. And make sure
always to give thanks in all things, as 1 Thessalonians 5:18 counsels.
The importance of an attitude of thanksgiving and prayerful praise cannot
be overemphasized.
You do not transform your life until you get your eyes off of yourself
and onto God. Put God foremost in everything through prayer. Make
sure you spend the necessary time waiting to hear from God. Most of our
prayers are simply us talking to God about all the things we want. This
contrasts sharply to the pattern the Apostle Paul followed in his many
recorded prayers in Scripture. He focused on the salvation of others,
good citizenship, prayer for leaders, and the welfare of God’s kingdom;
whereas we tend to focus mostly on ourselves and our needs and
desires.
Don’t ever make critical decisions as a result of temporary situations
or strong emotional feelings like fear or anger. And remember that you
cannot consistently put yourself in dangerous or tempting situations and
expect to prevail. Although you may successfully avoid problems a time
or two, you must keep yourself out of situations which could cause you
to falter. Remember that the only way to remain steadfast is to avoid
tempting circumstances. If you wish to remain pure, don’t put yourself
in compromising situations with anyone who might lead you the wrong
way. Do not abuse substances that impair your judgment or reduce your
inhibitions. Do not allow pornography and sensuality into your mind.
See Proverbs 4 on this subject, especially verses 14–15: “Do not enter
The path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not
travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on.”
And do not remain isolated for too long — you need to be connected
with others. The battle really is in the mind, and the battle is best won
in the choices you make before the situation begins. Remember that you
are not your own — you have been bought with a price (see 1Corinthians
6:20).
Sin opens doors to guilt and condemnation and breaks all important
focus. It also gives Satan opportunity to trouble you. For best results,
follow Jesus as closely as you can. If you want peace of mind, then
follow God’s rules. Follow God’s laws and avoid distracting stress, fear,
worry, and doubt. If you do fail, immediately confess your sin, accept
your assured forgiveness, and remember the grace of God so you are
not fodder for condemning satanic activity.
You also have a choice as to what type of citizen you will be. The
Bible says you should pray for your leaders, because God — and your
votes — have allowed their appointment. Pray for them that you may live
in peace and harmony. Pray for Presidents and their administrations, the
Congress, and the judiciary. Pray especially for those individuals within
these institutions we may think are far from God.
Additionally, the Bible tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Pray that our leaders and those in other countries of the world will follow
God’s plans and purposes, and will lead their countries in a way that
is pleasing to God. Our job is always to pray for and support them.
Freedom is worth standing for, and Christians should certainly vote and
be involved in politics and other civic matters in a positive way.
Finally, remember this: You can teach someone what you know, but
what you really are makes the biggest impact on those closest to you,
who watch you daily. Make sure that you truly are what you say you are.
If you make mistakes, confess and repent, and keep moving forward. A
mistake or sin is what you did; it does not have to be who you are — or
will always be.
One more point: Consistency is key. If you consistently do the right
things, then you will achieve your desired results. Always be willing to
admit your mistakes. Remember that it is easier to avoid trouble than to
fix it after you are in it deeply. Try to avoid a problem or bad situation,
whenever possible, before it has a chance to begin.
