Making Wise Choices

 

Choices.

We are faced with them from the moment the alarm goes off in the morning …

• Get out of bed or hit the snooze button?
• Socks, slippers or barefoot?
• Coffee or tea?
• Email or devotional?
• Pancakes or yogurt?

The choices come at us right from the start of our day and on it goes until our feet are back in bed.

Choices are that which we select or pick from a wide range of possibilities. We generally choose to go where our heart leads, or the option we like the best. Our personalities and bents lead each of us to make different choices, all of which we hope will lead us to be content, happy, and perhaps even, successful.

“Every choice you make has an end result.” (Zig Ziglar)

“Life is the sum of all your choices. So, what are you doing today?”
(Albert Camus)

The problem with choices is that generally, it is our heart that makes the choice and our hearts can mislead us:

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
(Jeremiah 17:9, NASB)

Who really knows indeed, for we each tend to think our hearts are in pretty good shape. Yet apart from the guidance of God, we can, and will, make poor choices in life.

Case in point, Abram and Lot.

God directs Abram to leave his home and go to a place yet unknown. Abram packs up everything in obedience and goes. But as families often may experience, Abram and his nephew Lot soon find themselves in a conflict.

The land could not support the growth of their herds, flocks, and cattle. Their herdsmen were constantly finding themselves embroiled in disputes.

Abram proposes they each take a section of land and separate, graciously offering to go the opposite direction of Lot. And Lot gets first choice [there’s our word].

Lot looks over the land in one direction and then the land in the opposite direction. And Scripture then tells us this:

“So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward.
Thus they separated from each other.”
(Genesis 13:11, NASB)

“Lot chose for himself.” His choice was made on appearances, for he chose the land that was well watered everywhere. His choice was totally selfish, without giving his uncle any thought or concern for how Abram would manage. Scripture does not tell us Lot prayed or sought God’s will for them both. Lot took what he wanted for himself.

Appearances can be deceiving and short lived. In the moment, selection can be made based on emotions and desires, both of which can be misplaced. Lot’s choice proved to be unwise and a snare in the end, while Abram’s life was fruitful and blessed, for all generations and time.

We can only make wise choices as we lean
on God, His wisdom, and His guidance.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6, MSG)

Our choices will have a lasting impact even long after we are gone.
Let’s choose wisely.

 

Have you ever made a poor choice? How do you make wise choices?

 

Photo by Bannon Morrissy on Unsplash