Decisions, Decisions

I’ve been thinking on the importance of making decisions based on what is pleasing to God. Two men from scripture come to mind in this. In Genesis we read of how Lot had a decision to make- to take the land on the right or the left (Genesis 13:1-9).

In verses 10-13 we read, “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord” (Genesis 13:10-13).

Lot based his decision on immediate gratification. The scripture says ‘he saw’ the valley was well- watered and chose it. He obviously did not consider all the factors involved in that choice-- certainly not the consequences of settling in an area where the scripture tells us the men were,“wicked, great sinners against the LORD.” Lot’s impulsive decision landed him in a very dangerous place, suffering dire consequences. He ended up living in the wicked city of Sodom, to which God sent two angels. They came to Lot and said, “we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life” (Genesis 19:13-17).

The story of Lot demonstrates the importance of making wise decisions based on the teaching of scripture. Certainly Lot could not have foreseen the disastrous results of his decision, but he should have known better than to surround himself with men who “were great sinners against the LORD.” “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Moses was another man from scripture who was confronted with a difficult decision. He was raised in prosperity and could have had great riches throughout his life. He chose, however, to give that all up. In Hebrews 11:24-26 we read, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” Notice the two words at the beginning of the sentence. “By faith.” If we are Christians, we must make our decisions by faith. Moses did this. He chose a life of trials and difficulties-- over temporary comforts-- in faith, believing eternity would produce a far greater reward.

If we are Christians, we, must make decisions in light of eternity-- considering all factors and what is best for us and our loved ones. We should ask ourselves if this decision will please or displease God. Will it bless my loved ones (friends or family members), or will it hurt them? We should never make a decision impulsively based on immediate gratification. Consider first the long term consequences of that decision.

All people suffer consequences of choices and decisions that displease God, however big or little those decisions may be. As Christians, however, we could save ourselves much grief if we would seek God’s wisdom through His word to direct our decision making. In the Psalms we are told, “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:104-105). We are also told to, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Had Lot sought God’s wisdom and turned away from evil, he would not have suffered such consequences. Sufficient are our trials in life without adding to them through unwise choices and decisions. However, we can be assured that “.. if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,” (2 Peter 2:7-8).

Submission- the Key to Harmony

I’ve been thinking on the importance of understanding and practicing submission. “Submission is the key to unity and harmony in human relationships.”

Submission should start within the home and move outward from there. God gives clear “submission guidelines” for each member of a family. “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged,” (Colossians 3:18-21). If wives would determine to submit to God through submission to their husbands... husbands determine to submit to God by loving their wives... children be trained to submit to God by obeying their parents... and fathers (as well as mothers) submit to God by not provoking their children, then families would live together in much better harmony.

In order to understand the broader concept of submission, we must, first and foremost, submit ourselves to God. James 4:6-7 tells us, “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” In other words, when we act in humble obedience to God’s word… choosing submission to Him... Satan’s temptations can have no power over us.

Not only must we be subject to the law, but we must also be subject to one another as employees and employers. “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him” (Ephesians 6:5-9). We can replace the word “bondservants” with “employees” and “masters” with “employers” in order to apply it to today. Scripture is telling us to be in submission to one another (in and out of the workplace) by living according to God’s will, in order to please Him in all that we do. Romans 12:10 reads “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Not only must we be submissive toward those in authority over us, but God tells us (through His word) that we must also be, “submitting to one another out-- of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). Submission to one another must always be in the context of scripture’s teaching, however. If someone sees us acting in disobedience to scripture’s teaching and corrects us, we are to acknowledge that wrong and repent of it. If, however, someone suggests we must obey them... when their commands are clearly against the teaching of scripture... then we must choose to “obey God rather than men,” (Acts 5:29). If, first and foremost, our desire is to be submissive to God, then obedience to scripture’s teaching must be top priority.

Jesus is our perfect example. In humble obedience to the Father, He was able to place the interests of others ahead of His own. Philippians 2:1-4; “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus demonstrated perfect submission to His Heavenly Father by doing what was pleasing to him, “Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him,” (John 8:28-29). If we are true disciples of Christ, we must follow the example our Lord set for us just before His crucifixion. “And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done,” (Luke 22:41-42).

Bind Leading the Blind

Luke 6:39-40 reads, “He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

If one is physically blind, he cannot keep another blind person from falling into a ditch. In this same way, one who is spiritually blind cannot keep others from “falling into a ditch,” along the path of righteousness.

(In truth, we are all spiritually blind-- but some have partial sight.) “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known,” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Because all are born dead, in trespasses and sins, we are all born blind (spiritually speaking). If God, by His Spirit, makes us alive, we then begin to see. We will never fully see and understand scripture’s teaching...and will not attain perfection while in these earthly bodies...but we will see enough to follow the path of righteousness.

Each of us is at a different point on that pathway. The more spiritually mature are walking closer to God than others, with a better understanding of His word. As we seek God through His word, and are sanctified by Him, our blinded eyes see more and more clearly. We become increasingly mature in the faith and grow closer to God, by the work of His Spirit in us. (The more we seek God through His word, the more mature we become in the faith as he sanctifies us). It is God (alone) who can make our blind eyes see. Psalm 146:7 reads, “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.” (God enables us to see more clearly (by the work of His Spirit)- as we live in obedience to His teaching.)

Psalm 119:104-105 reads, “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s word, and His word alone, can open our eyes to see more clearly. None of us will have 20/20 spiritual vision until we reach glory, (when we are fully sanctified), but we must strive for it by reading God’s word (and praying for a right understanding). (We do so in order to understand scripture’s teaching progressively, by His Spirit.) Proverbs 4:18-19 reads, “..the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.” (As disciples of Christ- we will not be fully trained until we are fully glorified one day- in heaven. Only then will our path shine as bright as full day.)

As, in obedience to God through the teaching of His word, we will grow in wisdom and understanding as men and women of God. In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Paul is telling Timothy, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

It is important to seek scriptural teaching from those whose eyes have been opened more fully to the truths of God’s word and whose teaching lines up with God’s commands—most importantly the great command to, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

If others’ teaching is not in line with God’s commands they are spiritually blind, and we should not sit under their teaching. As scripture warns, “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?”

May God reveal to us... more and more... the truth of His word...and may we be conformed... more and more... into the image of Christ.