Amen all right we're there in Joel chapter number three and tonight
I'm preaching a sermon entitled entitled how to make good decisions
I am speaking on the subject of how to make good decisions
And I just want to look at one verse here in Joel chapter 3 and verse 14
I just love the way that this is worded and written
Very it's prophetic, but it's poetic as well Joel chapter 3 and verse 14 the Bible says multitudes
Multitudes in the valley of decision for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision
And of course Joel chapter 3 has to do with end times prophecy, and there's a prophetic application here
And I'm not preaching about that tonight
But it's interesting just the wording there and kind of the mental picture that's drawn because whenever we have to make a decision
We're really in a valley
He says multitudes multitudes in the valley of decisions and when you are in a valley you kind of have
several ways to go several options to make and he talks about there at the end of the verse in the valley of
Decisions and I want to preach to you tonight on the subject of how to make good decisions because in life you and I must
Make decisions every day you make decisions and sometimes
We have to make big decisions that will have
big
Consequences in our lives, and it's very important
To make good decisions in fact it's so important
That we must be very careful because the wrong choice in a decision could alter
The quality and the state of our lives
Here's what I know about you
And here's what you can know about me whether you we know each other or not and it is this that you are
Where you are in life as a result of the decisions that you have made?
Whether you are happy with your life whether you are
Unhappy with your life you can be assured of this that you are where you are you are where you are
Relationally in your marriage with your children with your neighbors with your
Co-church members and and with your co-workers you are where you are financially you are where you are
Regarding your health you any area of your life you are
Where you are as a result of the decisions?
That you have made so in order to have a good life in order to have a good quality of life in order to
Be happier in order to have less regrets you and I must learn to make good decisions
I'd like you to go with me if you would to the book of John John chapter number six in the New Testament
We have Matthew Mark Luke John John chapter six
And let me just say this just kind of by way of introduction
Most of the time
What I've learned in ministry is
That most of the time most people
And I don't know why this is I?
Think part of it has to do with the fact that people know what I'm going to say or know what my wife is going
to say
Or people just for some reason are afraid of us. You know I'm not sure why
I'm uh
Five foot four. I don't think I'm that scary, but people seem to have this fear of talking to me
Most of the time I've noticed that people do not involve my wife and I in
their decision-making process and big decisions decisions that will affect their lives decisions about
Jobs to take decisions about places to move decisions about who to marry decisions big decisions
I've noticed over the last 10 years of ministry that most people not all people, but most people
refuse to involve
Me or my wife in their decision-making process, which is fine. There's nothing wrong with that. You're not obligated to involve us however
They always involve us when it comes to cleaning up the mess
That results with the decisions that they've made
Afterwards and oftentimes I tell people I say I wish you would have talked to me about this six months ago
I wish you would have talked to me about this a year ago
I wish you would have brought me in when it was a small problem
So we could have dealt with it when it was a small problem
We're usually the ones that get the call in the middle of the night. We're usually the ones that get the call
On the holiday day. We're usually the ones that get the call
When people need to clean up when they need help cleaning up the mess and we're happy to do it
I'm not complaining to you either. All I'm saying is this since most people refuse to involve us in the
Decision-making process but yet have to involve us or choose to involve us in the cleanup process
I just thought maybe if I preached a sermon that could just kind of be out there
Just kind of a resource or maybe they don't have to come into the presence of this five foot four inch man
But they could just click a video and get some advice as to what to do with their lives then maybe
It would help you to have less regrets and less scars and less pain
So what I want to do tonight, so I want to give you three questions and three principles
Three questions that you should ask yourself before you make any major decision three principles that you should apply
Before you make any major decision and these are the same questions that I would ask you if you were sitting across the desk
of my office
Seeking counsel for a major decision three questions
You should ask three principles. You should apply number one. We'll start with the questions three questions. You should ask
When you are faced with a major decision
Something that is going to affect your life in a major way
You gotta ask in my opinion these three questions number one ask yourself
How will this affect me or my family spiritually?
How will this decision how will those choice?
affect me or my family
Spiritually, are you there in John chapter 6 notice verse number 66, John?
666 it's a negative number and it's a negative verse
The Bible says this from that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more
With him in the ministry of Christ. We are in a transitional point here
Jesus goes from being someone with lots of followers to being someone with few followers
He goes from being very popular to being very unpopular. He preached a sermon
He gave some hard sayings some things that were difficult for people to hear
Difficult for them to understand and he had a church split here in John
666 many of his disciples were told went back and walked no more with him notice verse
67 then said Jesus unto the twelve and you can really see the
Humanity of Christ here because he just had a bunch of people leave him. He just had a bunch of people quit on him
He just had a bunch of people
leave his ministry and he looks at these twelve men that are really his inner circle and his
Friends on this earth and men that he's invested in and he's loved on and he has to them this very human question
He says will he also
Go away
He says are you gonna leave me too?
Are you gonna forsake me too?
are you gonna quit on me too and
Peter
Who doesn't always say the right thing?
Peter who often sticks his foot in his mouth every once in a while says the perfect thing
Now I want you to notice that Peter asked this question out loud John 6 and verse 68 then Simon Peter
answered him because Jesus just said Jesus just asked will ye also
Go away and Peter comes back with the question
You can tell that Peters been spending time with Jesus because he answers the question with a question just like Jesus would and he says
This he says Lou. He says Lord to whom shall we go?
He says to whom shall we go thou has the words of
Eternal life and I want you to notice that Peter in this moment when he was asked this question
Are you gonna leave to are you gonna quit to are you gonna go away to are you gonna get back to Lynn to?
Are you gonna leave us alone to he asked this question?
He says well, here's the thing Jesus if I leave you how is this going to affect me?
Spiritually or my family spiritually or the spiritual outcome of my life
He says where shall we go? And by the way, before you ever quit a church you ought to ask yourself this question to whom?
Shall we go?
To whom shall we go
Thou has the words of eternal life and Peter says is there someone better we should follow? I
Mean if the question is who is popular right now, Jesus
You're not very popular if the question is who's liked right now Jesus
You're not very like if the question is who's succeeding right now Jesus. It doesn't look like you're succeeding
You just had a major split. But if the question is what will affect me spiritually
And he says where else am I going to go?
He says to whom shall we go?
Thou has the words of life. So before you ever before you ever make a major decision in life
Before you ever make a major decision in life
Before you say yes before you move before you decide before you go before you take that job before you take that position
Before you go into that debt, you know before you do whatever it is that you're considering doing you gotta ask yourself this question
How will this affect me or my family spiritually?
And look it's a fair question
Doesn't the Bible say that Jesus should have preeminence in our lives?
Doesn't the Bible say seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto ye
So you gotta ask this question. How will this affect me or my family spiritually?
How will this affect me or my family spiritually will this have a
Positive effect or a negative effect. Will this help us spiritually or hinder us spiritually?
Will this be something good for us or will this be something negative for us?
Or you could ask it like Peter asked to whom shall we go?
Thou has the words of eternal life
Where are we gonna go to hear the words of God? Where are we gonna go to learn the biblical principles?
Where are we gonna go Jesus?
Where are we gonna go and this is really the question that Peter was asking
He was asking if I choose to leave you now
How will this affect me?
Spiritually, how will this affect?
My family spiritually go to Psalm
119 if you would
Psalm 119 if you open up your Bible just right in the center
You're more than likely found the book of Psalms Psalm 119 is the largest psalm in the book of Psalms
And it's all about the Word of God the entire psalm
Is about God's Word one of these days I'll preach through the book of through through the book of Psalms one day
I'll preach through Psalm 119
Could honestly be its own series on a Sunday night
I'm giving you three questions. You got to ask yourself before you make any major decision
I look I don't it doesn't matter what the decision is any major decision before you make any major decision that may have
Positive and or negative effects on your life. I'm just telling you as your pastor you had to ask yourself
There's three questions. You gotta ask yourself. The first question is this how will this affect me or my family spiritually?
Will this hinder or help will this be positive or negative?
Will we grow in the Lord or will we get backslidden as a result of this decision? Here's question two
You gotta ask yourself this question simple question. What does the Bible say about this?
What
Does the Bible say about this before you ask yourself before you make a decision you ought to ask yourself this question
What does the Bible say about?
this
You say what's this? I don't know. It could be anything
What does the Bible say about this? Are you there in Psalm 119? You say why do why would I care what the Bible says about?
This subject here's why because the purpose of the Bible one of the purposes of the Bible is to be your guide is
To help you make decisions. Are you there in Psalm 119 look at verse 105 Psalm 119 and 105
The Bible says this thy word is a lamp unto my feet and they lie unto my path
There is an illustration here of us being on a path. We're going down a road
We're walking down a pathway and it's dark and we can't see and we've got to make decisions
Am I gonna go right or left? Am I gonna go forward or back?
What do I do and the Bible says that as we travel through life in this darkness that God's word is a
Lamp unto my feet and a lie unto my path see it is the Word of God
That is supposed to lead you along life's way
It is the Word of God that's supposed to guide you that's supposed to help you
So before you make any major decisions in your life, you gotta ask yourself this question
What does the Bible say about this?
What does the Bible say about this issue this question this subject?
That I'm dealing with go to the book of Proverbs if you would
Proverbs chapter 3 now when it comes to
Answering a question
What does the Bible say about this because I would say that's probably the most common question I get asked as a pastor
What does the Bible say about fill in the blank?
What does the Bible say about whatever subject someone's interested in when it comes to answer that question?
You got to consider several things when it comes to Bible study
The first thing you have to ask yourself is does the Bible explicitly make reference to this subject does the Bible
Specifically speak about this subject, you know, what does the Bible say about alcohol?
Well, you know what the Bible actually
Talks about alcohol. So let's find those verses and see what the Bible says about alcohol. What does the Bible say about divorce?
Well, you know the Bible actually has verses dealing with divorce and God's thoughts on divorce
So let's go to those verses and figure that out and see what God says, but I will say this
Not everything you will deal with in life is specifically spelled out in the Bible
Sometime, you know somebody back. What does the Bible say about heroin? Okay. Well, I'm not sure why you're asking the question, but
You know, here's the thing. Does the Bible specifically make reference to heroin?
The answer is no
But when the Bible does not specifically deal with the issue that you have a question about what you should be looking for is
principles in the Bible that you can apply
So the Bible talks about alcohol
But you can make a lot of those similar applications to other drugs
The Bible refers to being sober. That's a principle that you can apply
So in life you and I when we have decisions to make we should ask ourselves this question
Will this help me spiritually? Will this hurt me spiritually?
I mean that really should be the answer to the question right there if the answer is no
It's gonna hurt me spiritually then don't do it. But if you're still not sure you can ask this question
What does the Bible say about this?
And you say well, I'm not sure that the Bible specifically talks about this
Okay, is there a principle in the Bible that we can leverage that we can use?
To help us make this decision
Proverbs chapter 3. Are you there look at verse 5?
Proverbs chapter 3 and verse 5 the point is this allow the Word of God to lead you
Allow the Word of God to guide you and not your own wisdom Proverbs 3 and verse 5 notice what the Bible says
trust in the Lord with all thine heart and
Lean not unto thine own understanding and
All thy ways acknowledge him notice these words and he shall direct thy path
See the Bible says that we should trust in the Lord that we should acknowledge him and that we should refrain
from leaning on our own
understanding
The Bible says we should allow him to direct thy past look at verse 7 be not wise in thy
Own eyes fear the Lord and depart from me
We'll see you are not asked this question when you're making a decision
You just really don't know what to do you are not asked this question. You know, what do I think we should do?
What do I feel like we should do? What do I think is right? No, you had to ask this question
What does God want me to do?
What does the Word of God say to do? What does the Bible say to do in this situation?
That is the question don't lean unto thine own understanding you say why because the Bible says this the heart is deceitful
Above all things and desperately wicked
Who can know it?
And here's what I know about you
Here's what you can know about me
That you were present for every bad decision you ever made
in
Fact I'll take it a step further
You are the mastermind behind every bad decision you ever made
You are the architect
You designed every bad decision every regret everything you're embarrassed about and shamed about not only did you
mastermind it not only did you are
Created and plan it out. You also sold yourself on it
You convinced yourself that?
I deserve this I
Worked hard for this this won't look you can't trust yourself
So
Why can't I trust myself because like we said at the beginning sermon?
You are where you are as a result of the decisions you made
And I'm not saying I'm not trying to offend you I'm telling you every badge every bad thing every
Embarrassing thing every shameful thing that I've ever made I've got to own up to you and tell you I was the architect behind that
I was the mastermind behind that my heart brought that out and I allowed myself to convey you say well
How do we fix that we let the Word of God make decisions?
We allow the Word of God to direct our path
We allow the Word of God to be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
We lean not unto our own understandings. We acknowledge him we trust him and let him direct our path
So if you want to make good decisions, here's the advice stop making decisions let God do it
How do I do that well you asked yourself this question
You asked yourself this question, how will this affect me or my family spiritually
You asked yourself this question. What does the Bible say about this?
Because supposedly I'm a Baptist, right?
Supposedly the Bible is my boss supposedly the Bible is my final authority in all matters of faith and practice
I mean supposedly God's Word is supposed to be all in my life
And God is supposed to have all of my life if that's true then God should be able to make all decisions based off his Word
So you ask the question how will this affect me or my family spiritually?
You ask the question. What does the Bible say about this? Here's a third question go to Proverbs 22
You're there in Proverbs 3 if you flip over to Proverbs 22
Here's the third question
And by the way, let me just say this
Everything I'm telling you tonight. This is these are things that my wife and I do in our decision-making processes
These are questions. We ask ourselves. These are principles. We apply in our lives, and I try to apply in our lives
Proverbs 22 in verse 3
Here's question number three ask yourself if the worst possible thing happened
Could I live with that?
You had to ask yourself how will this affect me or my family spiritually
You had to ask your foul self. What does the Bible say about this?
But you had to ask yourself this question if the worst possible thing happened. I've got a decision to make here
I'm being asked to make this decision. I could do go this way. I could go that way
I could decide on this I could decide on that you had to ask yourself if the worst possible thing happened
could I live with that if
The worst possible thing happened could I live with that are you there in Proverbs 22 look at verse 3 a
prudent man
The word prudent means wise
cautious careful a
prudent man foresee it the evil and hide it himself a
prudent man looks ahead and
tries to identify
Evil that which is hurtful that which will be hurtful to him and his family a prudent man foresee it evil
And hide it himself
He sees something bad coming towards him and he hides and he tries to avoid that but the simple the word simple means
Not smart the word simple means not wise the fool
He says but the simple pass on and are punished see the simple they see
Hazard ahead and they just keep walking in that direction. I
Mean we've all seen it
We've all seen some guy that's dating some girl that he shouldn't be dating or some girl
Is dating some guy that they shouldn't be dating and everybody's looking I'm saying what are you doing?
That is that's not gonna not end well, and they're just
Walking on that aisle I
do
Never ask their pastor never ask their pastor's wife, but they sure expect us to help them solve the problems and
Here's all I'm telling you. Here's all I'm telling you a wise person would ask if the worst possible thing happened
Could I live with that?
If the worst possible thing happened could I live with that and by the way, sometimes these questions are not gonna make you popular
But these are questions that we should ask because the prudent man foreseeeth evil and hide himself
But the simple pass on our punish and by the way, I you know, let me just say this
These are questions that we have applied in our lives
You know a long time ago my wife and I decided that we would never allow our children to sleep over to take part in a
sleep over at anyone's house
You say why because of the worst possible thing happened I couldn't live with that
That's why
See we make decisions we make decisions based off if the worst possible thing happened
Somebody walks in my office as pastor. Can I borrow this book and I think of myself if the worst possible thing happened
If they sold the book burnt the book never bought the book back could I live with that
And the answer is yeah, take it go for it. No problem
Pastor can sigh borrow your van. Well if the worst possible thing happened and you drove it off a cliff
It's not the nicest van, but it's the only van I've got
so no
I'll rent you a van cuz here's the thing if you
Run that one off a cliff. I'm fine with that
See the way you make decisions the way a prudent person makes decisions that they say they look ahead and they look at the potential
Evil and they ask themselves. Is it worth going in that direction?
If the worst possible thing happened if the worst possible thing happened, could I live with that?
Earlier this year. I had to make a decision about our church
Coronavirus happened and none of us knew anything about coronavirus
Lots of people were making YouTube videos talking very authoritatively about something that they knew nothing about none of us did
Nobody did anybody who tells you they did is lying
And
You know
We had some people telling you it's no big deal. It'll be fine
So we were telling you everyone's gonna die and we didn't know I didn't I'll tell you I didn't know
So I asked myself this question if the worst possible thing happened. Could I live with that?
And based off that question I decided to shut down the church
You said what it pan out?
Nobody died. Well, that's a good thing. I
Don't know if you know that
But you know, the point is this that sometimes we're just not willing to take the risk
Sometimes we need to just get down the road a little bit and realize. Okay, it was fine. We'll be fine
We can the second time around we can say hey, I think we can take that risk based off what I know now
I think we can take that risk but based off what I knew then
If the worst possible thing happened, could I live with that and the answer is no
So before you make major decisions in your life
Before you put your kids at risk or your spouse at risk
Or your family at risk
Your church family at risk. You got to ask yourself some questions big decisions
Decisions decisions you're in the valley of decisions. What do you do ask yourself? How would this affect me or my family spiritually?
Ask yourself
What does the Bible say?
about this
Ask yourself if the worst possible thing happened
Could I live with that?
Ask yourself these questions three questions. You should ask yourself
What I'd like to do now is just give you three principles. You should apply
Three questions, you should ask yourself and I'd like to give you three principles. You should apply
When it comes to making decisions, there are three principles and not all these apply to every decision
But they're just good principles that I think you should be aware of
Three principles you should apply when making decisions number one
Seek counsel are there in Proverbs go to Proverbs chapter 11 look at verse 14
Proverbs chapter 11 in verse 14 the Bible says this
Proverbs chapter 11 in verse 14 where no counsel is
the people fall
But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety
No, the Bible says that in the multitude of counselors their safety
when you ask a lot of people
When you ask advice of lots of people their safety
their safety in that advice and the multitude of counselors
There is safety go to Proverbs 15 look at verse 22
Proverbs 15 verse 22
Proverbs 15 verse 22 the Bible says this without counsel
Purpose purposes are disappointed
But in the multitude of counselors they are established I
I'm big into this idea of seeking counsel seeking counsel
Often if there's a big decision I need to make I'm talking to people I'm calling people I'm texting people sometimes
I'm just feeling people out and I'm just saying hey, what do you think about this?
You know and kind of getting feedback why because oftentimes when you bring stuff up to people they'll bring things up to you that you
Never thought about I think my wow. I don't know I would have never thought about that
That's a good point
You know we should address that or or you know there we have to take care of that first
We have to you know there are things that other people
Experiences they have other areas of knowledge that they have and it's just a smart thing to seek counsel in
the multitude of counselors
They are established go to Proverbs 24 look at verse 6
Proverbs 24 and verse 6 the Bible says this for by wise
Council thou shalt make thy war and in mole and multitude of counselors
There is safety look there's safety and the multitude of counselors
So when it comes to making decisions
seek counsel
Ask people ask for advice go to first Kings if you wouldn't
first Kings chapter number 12
Let me say this about seeking counsel
You got to seek counsel, but let's just make this clear you got to seek the right counsel
Not everybody should be giving you counsel
In first Kings chapter 12 we have a very
Good story to illustrate this
we have real boom the son of Solomon who just became king and
His followers have asked him for something. They've asked them to
To loosen things up a little bit notice there in first Kings chapter 12 look at verse 3
that they sent and called him referring to Rehoboam and
Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam saying notice what they said
Thy father made our yoke grievous
Now therefore make thou
The grievous service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter, and we will serve thee and
He said unto them
Depart ye, and I want you to notice that Rehoboam initially does two really good things here when it comes to decision-making
The first thing he does is he asked for time
Notice there's five again, and he said unto them
Depart ye for three days
Then come again to me and the people departed so that's a great move when you have to make a decision
You're just not sure what to do just ask for time I
Think about it for a couple of days. Can I think about it for a few days?
Can I pray about it for a few days now?
Don't tell somebody you're gonna pray about something and don't actually pray for it, okay?
Why not be deceptive people we have to do what we actually tell people we're doing
But you can take some time and say hey, I need a few days. Let me think about it. Let me pray about it
Let me seek some counsel about it
Great move here from Rehoboam
He asked for time then come again to me and the people departed then he did a second thing
Which was a great thing he asked for counsel. Look at verse 6 and King Rehoboam
consulted with the old man that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived and said
How do ye advise that I may answer this people he did two great things first?
He said, let me have some time then he went and he sought some counsel and let me say this
He sought some counsel from the right crowd
He sought some counsel from the old men the ancient men men that are already they've been in politics
They'd helped his father
Solomon had succeeded as a result of these men and he looks to these men and he says what advice do you give and
I would submit to you that they gave him the right advice over seven and they spake unto him saying
If that will be a servant unto this people this day
And will serve them and answer them and speak good words to them
Then they will be thy servants forever
See these ancient men. They knew something about life skills and people skills and relational skills
they understood that as a leader because like I said this morning leadership is influenced and
Influence is built on trust and before you can really start pushing people for a lot of decisions
You've got to earn their trust and they realize that Rehoboam had not earned their trust. He had no credibility
He just got in there. Look Solomon was Solomon
Solomon could say we're gonna push forward. We're gonna do something great
We're gonna accomplish great things and he was Solomon. He'd already been there. He'd already proven himself
He'd already proven himself as a leader, but this young Rehoboam
He had to earn their credibility
He had to earn their respect and by the way, let me just say this
This is why it is not appropriate for young men that are asked to preach to stand up here and just you know
Sometimes pastors get up and they have to rebuke their people but you know what the pastors have earned the right to do that
We've earned the right by being there at the bedside in the hospitals
We've earned the right by being there in the office and the weeknights for the counseling
We've earned the right by being there during the highs and the lows by performing the marriages by doing the premarital counseling
By being there for the funerals. We've earned the right to be able to rebuke some young guy gets up here things
He's not rebuking everybody. No one's gonna respect you
You got to earn that trust and by the way, that's a lesson in leadership in all leadership
Husband you got to earn the right to lead
If you're an employee you have to earn the right to lead those people you have to earn the right to lead and Rehoboam
Had not yet earned that right
So these wise men they said look Rehoboam
Right now
These people need to know that you are for them
We call it today. Jesus taught it in the New Testament servant leadership, by the way, all leaders should be servant leaders
You're for them
That you're not leading at their expense, but for their benefit
And then Rehoboam does something that's very foolish
Notice verse number
8
But he forsook the counsel of the old men
which they had given him and
consulted with the young men that were grown up with him and which stood before him he
Asked a bunch of the kids that grew up with him
The problem with asking these guys is that they had as little experience as he did
They'd earned as little of the right to lead the people as he had
They were simply giving a position
But that's not influence
notice verse 9
And he said unto them what counsel give ye
That we may answer this people who have spoken to me saying make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter
the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him saying
Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee saying thy father made our yoke heavy
But make thou it lighter unto us thus shalt thou say unto them my little fingers shall be thicker than my father's loins
And now whereas my father did laid you with a heavy yoke
I will add to your yoke my father has chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions
And notice how they responded the people look verse 16
So when all Israel saw that the king harken not unto them the people answered the king saying what portion have we?
And David neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse to your tents. Oh Israel now see to thine own house David
So Israel departed unto their tents, but as for the children of Israel which swelt in the cities of Judah real poem
Rained over them and he lost ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. Why because he sought the wrong counsel
He took the wrong advice
So in your life, you gotta seek counsel, but make sure you seek the right counsel
Here's all here's all I'm telling you here's all I'm telling you be careful about getting marriage advice from your divorce co-worker
If I if I needed a very marriage advice, you know who I'd go talk to someone who's been married 40 years
Someone who's been married 60 years
Someone who's actually been doing it successfully for a while
See when it comes to making decisions you got to seek counsel, but make sure you seek the right counsel
Be careful about be careful about asking your broke brother-in-law financial advice. I
Mean he's been bankrupt twice, but you're gonna ask him what you should do financially
Why don't you seek counsel from people that are succeeding financially, why don't you ask this question? What does the Bible say?
About this
We had a seek counsel before you make a major decision
These are principles you should apply to your life got a seek counsel got a seek counsel go to 1st Timothy chapter 6
First Timothy chapter 6 if you would you find the t-books that are all clustered together for a second Thessalonians for a second Timothy in Titus
In the New Testament first Timothy chapter 6. Let me give you the second financial the second
Decision principle to apply we I gave you three questions to ask I'm giving you three principles to apply
Three questions to ask
Three principles to apply first principle seek counsel, but seek the right counsel
seek counsel
But seek the right counsel. Here's the second principle
Don't make decisions solely based on money
Let me just let me just say this and you just need to hear this and I just want this to get
Recorded in your ears and in your mind and your heart
Whenever you make a decision solely based on money you will live to regret it
Period
Don't make decisions solely based on money first Timothy chapter 6 look at verse 6
First Timothy chapter 6 and verse 6 the Bible says this but godliness with contentment is great gain
What's great gain according to the Bible being godly and content
Being content means you're not complaining being content means you're not
Comparing being content means that you're happy with what God has given you
but godliness with contentment
You ask God that's great game
You say why is that great game?
So yes the world the world says
Nice cars and big houses and lots of toys and fancy clothes. That's great game
God says but godliness with contentment is great game. You say well God why why the difference of opinion and God says well
Here's here's why look at verse 7 for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out
You realize you can't take anything with you
You can't take anything you own with you. God says because of that
Verse 8 and having food and raiment. Let us be there with content. Hey, here's a great Thanksgiving principle
He said I got nothing to be thankful for do you have food and do you have clothing?
Because God says if you have food and raiment you ought to be content
That's enough and by the way if you're saved you're not gonna die and go to hell
How about that one?
verse 9
knows what he says
But they that will be rich
Now the will there is not like someone who's on his way to be becoming rich the will there is someone who desires to be rich
It's their will to be rich, and let me just say there's nothing wrong with being rich
God used all sorts of rich people in the Bible, but there is something very wrong with having a desire to be rich
But they that will be rich notice these words fall into temptation and a snare a trap
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and
Perdition you say why because there's something wrong with money not wrong with money, but there is something wrong with love and money
But verse 10 for the love of money is the root of all evil
Which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows
Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil the Bible says if you desire to be rich
You're gonna fall into a temptation and a snare the Bible says that this will err you from the faith
Because look you can't love God, and you can't serve God and mammon
Jesus made that clear
so when it comes to making decisions
You got to seek counsel, and you have to never make a decision solely based on money
Now look I didn't say that money can't factor in the decision-making process. I think money should factor into the decision-making
Process money is something that we all have to deal with there's something we all
Have to use so look when you're making decisions allow money to factor in to that decision-making process
But if money is the only factor in that decision-making process you are making the wrong decision
And you don't have to believe me. You just need to hear me you will live to regret it
You will fall into a temptation and a snare
so don't ever
Don't ever
Make a decision solely
based on money
Because oftentimes the right choice is the one that goes against financial logic
Go to Hebrews chapter 10 if you would towards the end of the New Testament while you go there
I'll read to you from 2nd chronicles 25 9
2nd chronicles 25 9 says this and Amaziah said unto the man of God
But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel
Here we have Amaziah
Who was fighting a battle?
With people that he should not have fought
and he'd actually already paid an army to help him and
The man of God went to him and said no no no no
Don't do this with send them home
And he asked this question. He says what shall we do for the hundred talents?
Which I have given to the army of Israel. He said I've already paid them
you're not gonna issue me a refund and
The man of God answered the Lord is able to give thee much more than this
Look sometimes people say well, yeah, but you know my wife
You know she's supposed to stay home, but we already spent all this money for her to get this college degree
You know what what about all that debt the Lord is able to give thee much more than this
You just follow God you just believe God
You just do what God told you to do. You'll be fine
Don't
Make decisions solely based on money
Now responsible person will factor in money a responsible person will factor in money into the decision-making process
But if you find yourself making a decision solely based on money you're wrong
And you'll regret it
Here's principle number three
Choose the best church
When it comes to making decisions you ought to choose the best church
Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is
But exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching
Going from church to church or transferring from church to church is sometimes needed. It's it's inevitable in life
Sometimes people need to transfer churches
Let me just give you some thoughts in regards to
transferring churches or moving to different churches
Going from a good church to an equally good church is fine
Let me say that again
Going from a good church to an equally good church is fine
Now when I say a good church to an equally good church
What I mean by that is that both churches have the same standards obviously no two churches are 100% the same
But in general they agree they believe the same things you know you go from a church
That's preaching hard preaching the King James Bible soul-winning standing on all the majority of good doctrinal
Positions and you go to another church that that is by and large having the same. There's nothing wrong with that
All right now. You know obviously I'm biased. I don't think there's a better church than Verity Baptist Church
Okay, and I'm not saying that because we started this church. I'm saying that because of you
You you can find look and I'll just be honest with you
You can find other churches that preach the same Bible we preach saying the same hymns
We sing do the same soul-winning we do but you're not gonna find another church that sings quite like we sing
That preaches quite like we preach and soul ends quite like we I'm just telling you
I'm bias is the greatest church in the world
But going from a good church to an equally good church is fine
And look we've got friends and churches we associate with and they're fine
You know and here's the thing you say I got a job transfer to Portland, Oregon
I you know I'm getting a promotion. I'm gonna make
$20,000 a year more you know pastor. What do you think I think hey?
You know what if you feel like the Lord's leading you in that direction
There's a great church for you to go to sure Foundation Baptist Church. I think that's fine
You know now you shouldn't make that decision solely based on money
But you can let money factor into that and going from a good church to an equally good church is fine
Going from a good church to a not so good church is questionable
If you leave here
to go to a church that
has
weaker standards
weaker soul-winning
Doctrines that you don't agree with you got to really question yourself. What are your motives?
Because
Again isn't isn't supposed to be our whole life centered around God
Isn't it Christ who is our life?
So if you're making the decision say well, yeah, I'm gonna go to this other church. It's not as good
You really ought to question your motives
What's motivating you to make that move and is it an idol in your life?
Let me say this going from a good church to no church is a sin
I
Got a job in this city and there's no church in the area for me and my family to go to but I'm gonna make
An extra 20,000 a year, so I'm just gonna move there. Anyway. You're not right with God
And if you ask these questions is this good for my family spiritually
What does the Bible say about this if the worst possible thing happened could I if you ask yourself those questions?
You wouldn't make that move
Look going from a good church to an equally good church is fine
We'll miss you will love you but go serve God. You don't have to serve God here. That's fine
Going from a good church to a not so good church is questionable
Going from a good church to no church is a sin
But let me just say this
We ought to avoid
Going from church to church if at all possible. I
Believe that God calls members into the body. That's Bible by the way 1st Corinthians 12
Now I realize that sometimes it's unavoidable
My wife and I when I was in the Air Force we transferred a lot and everywhere we went we went to an independent
Funeral Baptist Church and we found the best church in our area
We got plugged in and three to thrive and so winning and we did all that but let me just say this
It's better for our children that we've been in one place for ten years
It's better for you. So look just be be careful about being this person
Just find the best church and go there and get connected and and get there but sometimes it's unavoidable
Sometimes things happen in life and we have to make decisions going from a good church to an equally good church is fine
Let me just say this be careful
Because sometimes there's guys that we think they're like us and they end up not
Sometimes you may just want to go with the track record of someone who's been doing it for 10 years or 15 years and
You know, you know, they've been consistent
But going from a good church to an equally good church is fine going from a good church
So not so good churches questionable going from a good church to no church is a sin
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see
That they approaching go to Ruth chapter 1 if you would Ruth chapter 1
I'm gonna read to you a story real quickly and we're gonna finish up here just by way of conclusion Ruth chapter 1 in
Ruth chapter 1
We have a story of a decision that was made
And they made the wrong decision and
It cost them a lot
And I want to read this story to you and then I want to I want us to go through this story
asking our three questions and
applying our three principles and
Let's see if this story had to end the way it did
Ruth chapter 1 Genesis Exodus Leviticus numbers to the army Joshua judges Ruth
Ruth chapter 1 look verse 1
The Bible says this now it came to pass in
the days when the judges ruled that
there was a famine in the land and
A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab
he and his wife and his two sons Ruth chapter 1 look at verse 2 and
the name of the man was Elimelech in
the name of his wife Naomi and
The name of his two sons Malon and Chilean
Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah, and they came into the country of Moab and continued there and
Elimelech Naomi's husband died and she was left and her two sons
skip down to verse 5 look what it says and
Malon and Chilean died also
both of them and the woman was left of her two sons and
her husband
Now skip down to verse 19
And we'll skip some of this for sake of time, but Naomi
Has now sent her two daughters-in-law away because her two sons and her husband have died
Ruth
decides to stay
Orpah decides to go and Naomi and Ruth journey back to Bethlehem. I want you to notice
How Naomi comes back to Bethlehem verse 19?
So
They too went until they came to Bethlehem
she's coming back home and
It came to pass when they were come to Bethlehem that all the city was moved about them and they said is this Naomi?
She's been gone for a while and they're watching this woman in this
And Ruth this young woman come and they they're asking those questions
They is this Naomi look at verse 20 and she said unto them call me not Naomi. Call me Mara
So the word Mara means bitter or sour
She said I'm coming back bitter
I'm coming back. Not like I left
Notice what she says. She says for the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with me
verse 21 I
went out full and
The Lord hath brought me home again empty
Why then call you me Naomi?
Seeing the Lord hath testified against me and the Almighty hath afflicted me now look based off
verses 20 and 21
Did a limelik make the right or the wrong decision for his family?
Answers he made the wrong decision
Naomi comes back dealing with the consequences of the decision her husband made and she says I went out full and I came back empty
wrong decision
Now in this sermon I gave you three questions and three principles three questions to ask three principles to apply
Let's just ask these questions
See if a limelike could have asked these questions and applied these principles and came up with a different answer question
Number one, how will this affect me or my family spiritually? I
Mean if you look at verse one, it says the apart end of verse one
It says he and his wife and his two sons
He was making a decision here, but it wasn't just affecting him I was acting his wife and his children and
if
Eliminate like would have asked this question. How will this affect me or my family spiritually?
And by the way, he's moving from the land of God's
The land that God gave the children of Israel the land where God places tabernacle the land where God places
Blessing the land that God promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob and he's moving to Moab the enemies of the Lord
And
It's not just him
It's he and his wife and his two son and I believe that if a limelike would have honestly asked this question
How will this decision affect me or my family spiritually? I?
Think he might have avoided making this decision
That's the second question
What does the Bible say about this
I'm not gonna take the time to go through references to you, but I will tell you this there is lots of Bible about this
That God wanted his people in his land that God wanted his people to avoid the heathen that God
Specifically had put a curse on the Moabites and that God wanted to him to keep them to keep their distance from Moab
So if a limelike would have asked this question, you know, I'm considering moving to Moab
What does the Bible say about this?
He probably would have made a better decision
What about the third the third question?
If he would have asked himself this if the worst possible thing happened, could I live with that?
And by the way
the worst possible thing
happened and
He could not live with that literally he died
look at verse 3 and
limelike Naomi's husband died
Look at verse 5 and Malon and Chilean died also both of them and
the woman Naomi was left of her two sons and her husband I
Mean if he would have asked himself this question, what if the worst possible thing happens in Moab?
Could I live with that could have asked himself that question he probably would have made a different choice
What about our principles?
seek counsel
Did a limelike seek counsel?
Based off the text. We never see him seek counsel, but it's interesting counsel's there
Livers one again now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled
The whole point of a judge was for you to go and ask him questions and let him give you judgment
He could have gone to his local judge and said hey, what do you think about this? And I promise you that judge was that no
but
That judge was probably five foot four inches tall
and
A limelike didn't want to ask him
What if he would have sought counsel
He probably got the right answer
Here's principle to don't make decisions solely based on money
Well, that's a good one. Why are you moving to Moab is what the judge would have asked
Notice verse 1 now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled that there was a famine in the land
And a certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab
He literally left the place of God's blessing because there was a famine at that time
He left where God told him to be to go live with the heathen for one reason money
and
You know what?
He regretted it
If a limelike would have understood this principle don't make decisions solely based on money he would have stayed
By the way, Abraham wouldn't gone down to Egypt either
during a famine
By the way, Isaac would have gone down with the Canaanites either during the famine
Well during times of financial stress, it's it's not a good time to be making a lot of major decisions in your life
Don't make decisions solely based on money
The limelike would have applied that principle in his life. He would have probably made better decision
How about this one choose the best church?
Now, of course a limelike is in the Old Testament
The
Old Testament equivalent because the New Testament Church is the house of God which is the Church of the Living God the pillar and ground
Truth the Old Testament equivalent would have been the temple of the tabernacle
Eliminac was literally leaving the land where the house of God was
To go live with a bunch of heathen if he would have chosen the house of God. He probably would have made a better decision
But because the limelike found himself in the valley of decisions and
Every questions he should have asked and every principle he should have applied was ignored
His wife comes back
after burying her husband
after burying her sons and
Says I went out full and the Lord had brought me home again empty
Why then call ye me Naomi sing the Lord have testified against me and the Almighty hath afflicted me
And I'll just say this
Be careful about the decisions you make
Because you are where you are today
Based off the decisions you made yesterday and where you find yourself tomorrow
Will be based on the decisions you make today
So make the right choice
Make the right decisions
Ask the right questions apply the right principles
So that you don't have to like Naomi say I'm very bitter
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer. Heavenly Father
Lord we thank you for your word
We thank you for the fact that your Bible the Bible literally tells us everything about everything
When it doesn't specifically do it it gives us principles that we can apply
Lord I pray you'd help us to be smart with our decisions
Lord I pray you'd help us to take our time to ask the right questions to apply the right principles
So that we might live
lives that are
Bringing glory to you
with less regrets less baggage less scars
Lord help us to make decisions. Sometimes it's hard in the heat of the battle in a tense moment
we've got to make a decision help us to ask the right questions and
To apply the right principles in the matchless name of Christ we pray
Amen