2023
The decisions we make every day set the course for our lives…
Off the Chain / 0 Comments /Decision making is something the Bible speaks often about – “Choose this day whom you will serve.” You have probably said something like this to your children at times – “make good choices.” However, I want to talk about decision making on a different level than choosing between something that is clearly sinful vs something that is godly.
I work with men regularly who are working to choose righteousness over sin – “make the right choice.” Those choices become clearer to men as they learn and grow in God’s word. Even when men grow into making choices in that regard, most of them do not know the basics of making other life decisions while considering the spiritual consequences. They have not learned to apply spiritual thinking or reasoning to situations that don’t present as moral choices. I think it is good for us all to ask ourselves if we evaluate all life decisions based on their spiritual merit. Isn’t that part of what Jesus meant when he told us to “seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness” – Matt. 6:33?
The story of Lot will illustrate what I mean. His story spans between Genisis 11 through 19. He was Abraham’s nephew that left Ur and traveled with Abraham to Caanan. We find out that Lot’s father died in Ur before the family moved to Terah and his grandfather died in Terah. That may give us more insight as to why Abraham had such an affinity toward his nephew. As their life in Canaan unfolds, we are told that the land cannot support them living together because “their possessions were great” and there was strife between their herdsmen. Abraham suggests that they separate and, though he is older, wealthier, been Lot’s caretaker, and given the land by God he offers Lot the first choice of the land. Lot makes a choice that seems obvious from a farmer’s (worldly) viewpoint, the Jordan Valley, which was compared to the “Garden of the Lord.” However, as noted in Gen 13:12-13, the land he picked contained the “cities of the valley” which included Sodom – full of “wicked, great sinners against the Lord.”
How much did Lot know about Sodom? That is certainly up for debate. As the story unfolds though we see that he learns soon of the political instability there, he is captured and kidnapped by warring kings. Were it not for the intervention of Abraham, he would have lost all his possessions and possibly his life. Despite all of that he decided to stay in Sodom.
Finally, God is ready to destroy Sodom and Abraham pleas for God to save the city based on Lot being there. He negotiates with God, and God agrees to spare the city if there are 10 righteous people there. It seems Abraham believes that this will save Lot and his family. God’s messengers go into the city and see for themselves how wicked it is. They are targets of the wickedness there and tell Lot that he and his family must leave immediately. Lot reluctantly leaves with his wife and two daughters, but his betrothed sons-in-laws refuse to leave. Lot’s wife dies looking back toward Sodom. Lot ends up living in a cave with his daughters who get him drunk and sleep with him! Their offspring become the Moabites and the Ammonites. Two wicked nations that fight against and negatively influence Israel.
Lot’s story illustrates that we are often presented with choices that are not direct moral choices. It was not a sin for Lot to move where he moved, but it was unwise, and it cost him everything. Did Lot consider the spiritual or only the physical? Which did he place the greater emphasis on? Did he approach his decision with humility? Did he pray, did he seek counsel? Shouldn’t he have deferred to Abraham? Did he consider the influence of the area on himself, and his family? Is this a good place to raise children? Why did he pick where he went? Was it wealth, pleasing to his eyes? Anything to get out of a stressful situation? Make a name for himself? That choice would haunt Lot forever.
The decisions we make every day set the course for our lives. What do we base our choices on? I counsel men in prison to consider from a spiritual perspective, things like what job they take in prison, should they transfer to another prison, should they go to work release, where will they go when released, etc. Then when men come to our program, they have many choices to make that could have serious spiritual consequences down the road – where should they work, how will they spend their money, what secular activities will they be involved in, should they pursue a relationship with a woman, where will they live after the transition house, what congregation do they attend, etc. Without considering the spiritual consequences they will make bad decisions. I encourage them to pray, seek counsel, evaluate these things not on the physical aspects only, but on the spiritual. It is not always a clear easy choice, but when the spiritual consequences are negative, should we ever make that choice?
How about us? Do we make spiritually discerned choices? Do we teach our children to consider things regarding the spiritual ramifications? Do we teach this in our congregations? Prov 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. Thank you for allowing me to help these men see their choices from a new perspective. I have certainly not done that at times in my life. I see things better now.
Giving Tuesday is coming up on November 28 if you could share with others on social media. I will email a reminder and a link. Thank you for everything you continue to do in support of my work!
