Tuesday, September 22, 2015

MAKING CHOICES

                I spent the majority of my day yesterday building a carpet ball table for our youth group. It was a simple project, but because of the size and the weight, it took some time. Actually more time than I had anticipated. That is usually the case with projects. Once I had completed the project, I was spent.

                By choosing to work on the carpet ball table, I was also choosing not to mow my lawn, or fill the cracks in my driveway, or accomplish any number of other smaller projects. This was not a conscious decision, but it was a real one. By saying yes to one thing, I was in effect saying no to many others things I could have been doing. Every choice we make comes with a cost.

                Life is full of choices. We often make these choices quickly, without much thought to the cost. Many of these choices are routine, and the cost is minimal. But there are a significant number of choices that we make that close the door on some significant alternatives. Part of being wise is recognizing those choices and taking the time to weigh the cost.

                The Bible tells us that many of the choices we make in life have a major impact on our spiritual growth and maturity. We are advised to be wise in the way we approach these choices. We need to take the time to weigh the cost. Satan subtly masks the cost of the choices that we make. Usually, it is only after the fact that we awaken to the consequences of our decision. It is like the old V-8 commercial where the person smacks their forehead and declares, I could have had a V-8. The message of that commercial is actually very good. Think before you act.

                Our relationship with Christ is so important that Jesus said we need to weigh the cost of following him.  "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
    "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
    "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-33

                Jesus was making it clear that we cannot be half-hearted followers of his. If we are going to be his disciples, we need to be fully committed. We understand this intellectually, but often miss the point in practice. We get either surprised by or enticed by the choices of the world. We blindly give in, without thinking through the cost. After we have made the decision, we become aware of what we have done.

                James warns us to be careful about the choices that we make. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

                We do not often think in such black and white terms. But James’ words should be a wake-up call for us to be careful in the choices that we make. Every choice has the potential to move us closer to Christ or farther away from Him.

                The positive alternative to James’ words are Paul’s words in Colossians 3:17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Paul is encouraging us to be intentional about the way we use our time and energy. We can glorify God in whatever we do, if we are wise and intentional in the choices that we make.


    

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