Biblical Decision Making (Limestone Park Youth 7/10/24)

The Importance of Good Decision Making:

Quick Question for Everyone:

- Who has ever made a bad decision before?

Who has made a bad decision today?

Who has made a bad decision while being here at Limestone tonight?

As is quite obvious from the way that everyone answered, it is very easy to make a wrong decision. It could be about something very insignificant like eating ice cream when I am not supposed to eat dairy…that was NOT the right decision!!!

Or it could be something a lot more significant like choosing to make a bad decision with your friends which led to you getting into a lot of trouble.

Decision making is something that we are constantly doing. Research actually suggests that the average adult makes between 33,000-35,000 decisions daily. Some of these are done almost without thinking. A subconscious decision. Others are things we have to think through whether or not they seem like a hard choice to make.

The point remains… decisions are an important thing in life. They are the 33,000-35,000 moments that make up “who you are”. Your preferences, your attitude, your intelligence, etc.

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

So what is your point Nate?

My point is this… depending on how you view the world and how you view God will determine a lot about how you make countless of those daily decisions.

And I think we all know that just one wrong decision sometimes leads towards another and another and another. All because we are trying to hide or cover up our initial mistake.

So, YES, decisions are important. And if the way I view God and His Word make a difference in how I make those 12-12.7 million decisions every year, then I think its worth your time to consider it too.

So here is what the Bible has to say about wisdom and good knowledge:

Theme Verse for the Night

Proverbs 13:14–16 ESV

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. 16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

***Break down each of these three verses***

So tonight I want to briefly share 3 areas of life that I want you to consider your decision making skills:

Have you made a decision with Jesus?

This is the single most important decision someone could make in their entire life. What will I do with this Jesus?

Some people accept Him as their Savior, others deny Him…but I think many people just write him off. They aren’t sure what to think so they just choose to be neutral. To stay in the middle.

Let me tell you, you cannot be neutral with God. It is very clear from scripture that you either choose to follow Jesus or you are against Jesus. There is no limbo area. There is a clear line, and if you try to sit on the fence, that is you choosing to be against God.

So I ask you again… what are you doing with or what will you do with this Jesus?

Jesus says in John 14:6

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is very clear! He is the only way to Heaven! The path is narrow that leads to life. But the path is wide that leads towards death and separation from God forever.

I beg you: take the narrow path. In Jesus you will find that He is the right way. You will also find that He leads to eternal Life. Lastly, you will find truth.

I think this is important enough to stop and think about for a minute.

And I have talked about this with my students many times…

Can there be two truths? It is physically possible?

NO! That cancels out the definition of truth! If something is true, then everything else must be…False!

Some people say that you can have your truth and I will have mine…well guess what, one of them is going to be wrong. There cannot be two truth.

I love to use this example:

In literature class, some of you may have heard a teacher ask: what does this story mean to you?

then they ask another person: what does this story mean to you?

While you can gain different takeaways and applications or like certain parts more than others…you do NOT determine what the story means. Who does that? The Author does. Whoever creates and writes the story is the one who determines what is true about it and what it means… not the one who reads it.

The same is true of God. He is the Author of all life and He is the Author of the Bible. God determines what is true and not. SO for me… I go to the Bible if I want to know what the truth about something is.

My point remains: you have to make a decision about Jesus. What will that decision be? And not saying or doing anything is actually you choosing “NO” to Jesus. It is an unavoidable decision.

I would imagine that all of you here tonight have heard about Jesus… but in the case that you haven’t. Or in the case that you are ready to make the decision to follow Christ and want someone to talk to about it… I would be glad to stay afterwards and hear you. As would many other volunteers here tonight!

2. Are you making good decisions about friends?

The next thing I would ask, is how are you deciding your friends? During this stage of your life, you are consistently being surrounded by your peers. You go to school all year with them. You play sports and instruments with them. You go to camps with them…you are always around people your own age.

So how do you decide which ones to befriend and which ones you are still kind to, but don’t choose to let be an influence in your life?

How do you make this kind of question? Its a very important one!

Perhaps you find similarities:

- We both play soccer together

- We both enjoy art

- We are in band together

These are certainly not bad ways to start looking for friends. It is good to find people with common interests.

But can I also encourage you with something else..and maybe propose a thought you may have never had before.

Just because a certain group of people “accept you”. And welcome you into their “group”, does not mean they are your only options for friends.

Look at what Proverbs 13:20 says

Proverbs 13:20 NASB95

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Don’t walk with foolish people just because they seem to welcome you when you have a hard time finding good friends.

Sometimes finding a good friend is a hard thing, but when you find them, you have found a great asset.

Proverbs 18:24 ESV

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

You want good friends. Don’t be desperate to find a place to “fit-in”.

When you surround yourselves with people who do not share good values, you will find yourself becoming like them. We become like the people we spend our time with.

Do you know that my family told me that since I got engaged and then married to Ileana, that I now share some of her mannerisms and even sometimes her voice inflections. And the thing is that I don’t even realize that I am doing them. You become like the people you spend your time with.

So carefully consider… are these people I want to do life with? Will they change me for the better or for the worse.

It is a hard thing to do. And you don’t want to be judge mental and rude. You can still talk to them and be kind. You don’t need to cancel them. But they cannot be your close friends.

This is a hard decision once you find yourself with people who are not good for you. But the decision is worth it! It is your life and your future at stake.

3. And this is my final point for tonight:

Are you making good decisions about your future?

You don’t want to be…and the bible says you shouldn’t be… the kind of person who is always concerned about the future. But the Bible does tell you to consider it and seek God’s help.

- When you make a decision about Jesus, you are making a decision about the rest of your life…because it will be different when you truly find Jesus

When you make a decision about your friends, you are making a decision about your future, because this influences who you will become

When you make a decision about taking school seriously, this will influence your future job or evaluation on a life career

When you make a decision to be more intimate with that guy or girl, that will influence your future marriage or relationships

When you make a decision about your summer break, that will influence how you manage free time and can result in a lot of well-spent time or set yourself up for a poor school year, possibly even get in trouble with the law.

You have a life ahead of you… Don’t stress and worry about everything being perfect. But recognize that your decisions now directly influence your future ahead of you.

So, what things will you take interest in now?

What friends will you choose?

What will you do with this Jesus?

Will you trust him with your future and focus on following Him daily?

Thank you all for your time listening intently tonight.

I beg you, do not leave here, go home and fall asleep without considering the things that I had to tell you tonight.