Wise Choices

I remember this story of a ninth grader. Brown hair, brown eyes......on this one particular day he was wearing blue jeans with these tan colored work boots and a black long sleeved shirt with this logo on it, that represented the Pittsburg Steelers. And this 9th grader burdened with anxiety and guilt went straight to his youth pastor.

9TH GRADER - “I didn’t mean to do it! I just want to be a good friend!”

Pastor - “Hold on here, what are we talking about”

9TH GRADER - “After every home football game, I go to the Cafe down the street with my friends. We sit in the same booth every single time. My big brother sits in the booth behind me, and he orders a couple pitchers of beer. Then he fills up a few cups and hands them to us for my friends and I to have. I try not to drink any, but my friends are all doing it and I don’t want to be the odd one out. So, I start to sip......over the course of time I’ve been drinking more and more.......I haven’t been drunk Pastor! WHAT DO I DO?

Pastor - Here is a bible look at Ephesians 5:15-17

Ephesians 5:15–17 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Pastor - “If you don’t want to fall into temptation and sin, then you need to stop choosing the time and direction towards the temptation. Stop going to the cafe after the football games so that you don’t have the temptation to drink. And your probably thinking “I can be stronger. I can be with my friends, fight off the temptations and not drink at all.” BUT

Proverbs 28:26 ESV

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Pastor - See you, make this assumption that if something is not wrong, then it must be right. AND If you have that kind of thinking then what your really doing is....seeing how close can I get to sin without actually sinning? and this is foolishness and unwise. Because what your saying is “I’m ok with being in a situation where i’m tempted to sin.”

- Your ok with dating someone who isn’t a Christian. because you haven’t done anything wrong yet. BUT is that wise.

-How far is to far in a relationship with a girl friend or boy friend? hand holding....That’s not a sin so thats ok. kissing isn’t a sin so that’s ok, but at what point does the temptation get so strong that you do actually fall into sin.

-What type of music do you listen to? You might be saying “Well it’s not Christian, but it’s not music that is bad or anything. But is it possible that it does lead you into thinking a certain way. Can it lead you away from Christ?

-Can you attend a party. absolutely, but the things that are at the party may lead you into doing something you shouldn’t.

Is it ok to have beer. No! your a minor.

Which movies are ok for you to see? at what point are movies shaping you or tempting you to sin?

Proverbs 28:26 ESV

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

I want to challenge you to stop asking this question. “Is it a sin if I say this or do this?” Stop thinking that if it’s not a sin than it is ok for me to do. A wise man won’t ask is this a sin or not. A wise man predicts or thinks things through prior to coming to that question of whether or not this is a sin.

-A fire fighter hears the bell start ringing and he jumps in the fire truck gets to the scene and runs into the house to save someone’s life and he catches on fire and ends up in the hospital. All because he didn’t put on his equipment before jumping into the fire truck.

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Proverbs 7 ESV

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.