Importance of Wise Choices in Spiritual Well-being
Each day presents us with choices that can have varying consequences, especially impacting our relationship with God and spiritual well-being. By examining biblical accounts like Cain and Abel’s sacrifices in Genesis 4:1-8, we learn the significance of making wise choices to avoid detrimental outcomes.
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BEING MINDFUL OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE
INTRODUCTION Each day of our lives is filled with choices, some more important than others Each choice has a consequence The consequences of some choices are fairly benign (harmless) Other choices have far more serious consequences Physical, spiritual or both
INTRODUCTION In our lesson today we are going to consider some serious choices we all should be concerned about Q: Why? Because they could have a major impact on our relationship with God They involve our spiritual well- being & ultimately our eternity
INTRODUCTION To help us appreciate the importance of these choices we will look to the Bible, OT & NT The nature of many of the choices we face today is no different than that faced by individuals of old in the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1:9) We will consider some Bible accounts where individuals were called upon to make some important choices
INTRODUCTION As we noted earlier, choices come with consequences We will consider some of the consequences of choices that individuals made Finally, we will consider some applications for us today To remind us of our need to make wise choices
GENESIS 4:1-8 The account The sacrifices of Cain and Abel
GENESIS 4:1-8 The choices available Choose to do well (V7) Offer a sacrifice acceptable to God Choose to not do well (V7) Offer a sacrifice unacceptable to God
GENESIS 4:1-8 The choices available The text strongly infers Cain knew what was involved in offering an acceptable sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4, James 4:17)
GENESIS 4:1-8 The choice made Cain chose to not do well The evidence suggests Cain did not correct his error regarding his sacrifice Cain compounded his error by making another bad choice, he murdered his brother Abel (1 John 3:10-12)
GENESIS 4:1-8 The consequence of the choice made God placed Cain under a curse (V11) The ground would no longer yield it strength [fruitfulness] (V12) A fugitive & vagabond (V12) Cain went out from the presence of God (V16)
GENESIS 4:1-8 The application for us We too must choose between doing well and not doing well Sin is crouching at the door and wants to pounce on us, but we must resist (1 Pet 5:8, Jam 4:7-8) Failing to keep our emotions in check can negatively influence our choices
GENESIS 4:1-8 The application for us One bad choice often leads to more bad choices The snowball effect Choosing foolishly can result in the innocent getting hurt Choosing foolishly can result in us being cursed & banished from God s presence (Matt 7:23)
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The account DEUTERONOMY = Second Law To prepare the people to enter the Promised Land, Moses repeats the law of God to Israel Received ~40 years earlier at Mount Sinai In CH30 Moses addresses Israel as he nears the end of his life
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The choices available Choose life By loving God & obeying Him Walk in His ways, keep His commandments (V16) Choose death By being disobedient to God Turning their hearts away & worshipping other gods (V17)
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The choice made Though Moses set this choice before the people today , in reality he was looking forward to the future when Israel would take possession of the Promised Land (V16b & V18b) The choice had both a present and future component
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The future consequence related to each choice Choosing life would result in Good [prosperity, NAS] (V15) Live & multiply in the land (V16) God s blessings on them (V16) Both you and your descendants may live (V19) Ability to dwell in the land (V20)
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The future consequence related to each choice Choosing death would result in Evil [adversity, NAS] (V15) The people would perish (V18) They would not prolong their days in the land (V18) A curse instead of a blessing (V19)
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The application for us Even today God sets before men life and death The choice is ours to make To dwell eternally with God in heaven (our Promised Land) we need to choose life today By loving God and keeping His commands (Jn 14:15, 1 Jn 5:3)
DEUTERONOMY 30:11-20 The application for us A choice to disobey God is a choice for death Eternal separation from God Sadly, the majority will choose spiritual death over spiritual life The broad way (Matt 7:13-14) Judge yourselves unworthy of eternal live (Acts 13:44-46)
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The account Joshua s farewell address to the children of Israel The children of Israel are now living in the Promised Land
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The choices available Serve the gods of your fathers Their forefathers before Abraham worshipped idols (V2) Serve the Lord (Jehovah) The One True God
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The choice made Multiple times in this chapter the children of Israel declared their choice, to serve the Lord God See V16-V18 (V18*) See V19-V21 (V21*) See V22-V28 (V24*)
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The choice made Joshua 24:31 records these words: 31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. The children of Israel were faithful to their choice, for a time
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The consequence of the choice made Though not explicitly stated, we can conclude Israel enjoyed God s favor & blessings while they served God Recall God s promises to Israel in Deuteronomy 30:11-20
JOSHUA 24:14-15 Sadly, Israel did not remain faithful to their choice Things took a drastic turn for the worse after the death of Joshua and the elders of his generation See Judges 2:10-15 This tragic pattern would be repeated over and over again and ultimately lead to the downfall of Israel
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The application for us We too must choose who we will serve Other gods (Satan) or the God of the Bible (Matt 6:24) We may be called upon to forsake the gods of our fathers The gods of this world can come in many different forms (Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5)
JOSHUA 24:14-15 The application for us The choice to serve God is not a one time event, but an ongoing action (Revelation 2:10)
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The account Elijah s victory over the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel Another dark account in the history of OT Israel
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The choices available Follow the Lord (God) Follow Baal Follow: To walk after or behind (i.e. to go in the same direction as another)
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The choice made The people answered him not a word (V21) They responded neither for or against God It was at that point that Elijah proposed a contest between himself and the 450 prophets of Baal (V22-V24a) The people were pleased with Elijah s proposal (V24b)
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The consequence of the choice made The failure of the people to respond in the Lord s favor was in reality an endorsement for Baal Surely God was not pleased with the people s silence
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The consequence of the choice made The Lord was compelled yet again to prove Himself to an idolatrous people That He alone is God It was at this point Israel acknowledged God (V36-V39*)
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The application for us We need to decide who the one true God of this universe is and choose to follow after Him Follow Jehovah God God has proven Himself again and again We should not foolishly put Him to the test (Matthew 4:7)
1 KINGS 18:17-21 The application for us Choosing to remain silent when called upon to pledge one s allegiance to God is in reality a choice against God (Matt 12:30)
LUKE 10:38-42 The account Jesus visits with Martha and Mary
LUKE 10:38-42 The choices available Choose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His word Choose to busy oneself being a good hostess
LUKE 10:38-42 The choice made Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His word Martha chose to busy herself serving her guests She became upset with Mary and asked Jesus to order Mary to assist her
LUKE 10:38-42 The consequence of the choices made Martha was mildly rebuked by the Lord (V41) You are worried & troubled.. Mary was commended by the Lord for her choice (V42) Mary has chosen that good part [what is better]
LUKE 10:38-42 The application for us Becoming distracted by the cares of this life can influence the choices we make Choices are not always a matter of good versus bad At times choices are a matter of good versus better The choice that results in the greater spiritual good is the better choice
CONCLUSION We ve considered some Biblical accounts where God s people were called upon to make a choice Sometimes between good and evil Sometimes between good and better
CONCLUSION The choices we studied came with serious consequences Physical, but primarily spiritual We considered some applications for us as the nature of many of the choices we face today is no different than in times past We conclude our lesson by asking the question:
ARE WE BEING MINDFUL OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE?
