Choices for Life.

Introduction:

Did you know how many choices you made before coming to church? Should I hit the snooze button one more time? How many cups of coffee do I need this morning? Eggs or oatmeal? Both? What will I wear today? The list goes on and on each day…every day.

You know that if you hope to have X amount of dollars in bank by age 65, you know that with compounding interest you have to put away X dollars each month correct? There is nothing wrong with making financial goals , but what is more important without comparison is your eternal goals.

We don’t know when the Lord is going to call us home to glory so we need to be making wise decisions each day because our riches in glory will far exceed anything on this earth because it all corrupts, wears out, gets stolen or lost. But not in God’s economy. What good we do here each day is depositing it into God’s bank and he always handsomely rewards his children.

***Got to shorten this to one example***

Today my desire is to appeal to you to be wise and invest in daily good choices that will bear much fruit and glory to our Father who has saved us. I plan to do this by first explaining the proverb, then show how who you hang with influences you and close with some practical application that we can start today.

Point #1 - Choose life or death.

recite proverb. Think back to where Lady Wisdom is loudly calling out to everyone everywhere to seek after her. This is a call out to “whoever” which is male or female, young or old, rich or poor. Anyone who will listen, hear what wisdom has to say.

Whoever “walks” is to say that one follows or lives or associates with the wise man, one who is highly skilled in understanding and discernment, will become wise. This is to become skilled themselves which takes time, to become wise and deal in such a way that is wise in understanding so that they themselves can teach wisdom.

But (20b), the companion or to be friends with fools who lack understanding, those who are insolent, lazy and despise teaching and obedience will suffer harm. This is to say that pain and sorrow is the roommate of the fool. You get one with the other as they are inseparable.

So to put it together we could say that Solomon is instructing that when anyone associates with those who are wise, they are a disciple (learner) being trained in godliness by a wise person (disciple maker) so that they then can teach wisdom to others. But, whoever hangs out with fools as his counsel and comrade will suffer hardship and pain.

But, whoever hangs out with fools as his counsel and comrade will suffer hardship and pain.

Transition: Therefore choices are made, one leads to life, one leads to death. One is Lady Wisdom calling and one is Lady Folly flaunting her honey dipped words laced with poison.

Point #2 - Choose who influences you.

Can you think of a time when you ran into a particular difficult situation? Who did you talk to? God? Parents? Grandparents? Spouse? Close Friends?

Why did you talk to them? Was it not because you needed those you trust to speak into this situation and give counsel on how to best navigate through the stormy waters? Of course it was. And this points us to the importance of how those closest to us influence our decision making.

If we are to become wise in applying the knowledge of God to turn from evil towards what is good, we need to surround ourselves with wise people. If we want to become foolish, we surround ourselves with with fools.

Where our heart is in unity with another, their ideas have great influence in conforming us to look like those we surround ourselves because we trust them not to lead us down a garden path right? Whether it be politics, religion, education, or whatever, the ideas of those we trust persuade our thinking.

Ever hear the saying birds of a feather flock together. Many years ago I had a great older friend. He had mannerisms and peculiar sayings that he would repeat over and over. If we were on a business trip for a weekend spending alot of time together, I would come home and almost unknowingly would act or say things just like him. Nancy said so!

Many years ago I had a great older friend. He had mannerisms and peculiar sayings that he would repeat over and over. If we were on a business trip for a weekend spending alot of time together, I would come home and almost unknowingly would act or say things just like him. Nancy said so!

Ever hear the saying “I can tell your character by who your friends are”? Those we consistently hang out with, we also take on their behaviours. Many years ago I had a great older friend. He had mannerisms and peculiar sayings that he would repeat over and over. If we were on a business trip for a weekend spending alot of time together, I would come home and almost unknowingly would act or say things just like him. Nancy said so!

Since ideas and behaviours influence us, Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Solomon gives this proverb so that you and I would be wise in who influences our thinking. Both the wise and the fool disciple us, one for life and one for death. One leads to holy and righteous living in the fear of the Lord, while the other leads to wicked and immoral living that has no fear of God.

It is for this exact reason that we are not to marry unbelievers, to be unequally yoked is disastrous to your faith. I have seen plenty of hardship where love was all that mattered in the beginning. Hard times came for them down the road. Something a tad more difficult is when one has unbelieving parents, siblings or grandparents. You love them and honour them but you can’t disown them. This is where you need wisdom in what counsel you allow yourself to be influenced by. You pray for them and bear witness of Christ, but regarding living as a Christian, their worldview is corrupted just like yours and mine was before conversion. This may be hard to hear when you hold them so dear to your heart but the truth is that while they may lead you to live a moral life, they will not lead you to a Christian life.

This is the power of influence over one another and Solomon knew that. Therefore he gives this proverb so that you and I would be wise in who influences our thinking. Both the wise and the fool disciple us, one for life and one for death. One leads to holy and righteous living in the fear of the Lord, while the other leads to wicked and immoral living that has no fear of God.

[33] Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (ESV) This is the power of influence over one another and Solomon knew that. Therefore he gives this proverb so that you and I would be wise in who influences our thinking. Both the wise and the fool disciple us, one for life and one for death. One leads to holy and righteous living in the fear of the Lord, while the other leads to wicked and immoral living that has no fear of God.

Jesus was a friend of sinners and tax collectors, but with the intent of evangelism, to call people to repent of sin and to believe the gospel. We live in the world but we are not of the world. This proverb is about choosing who influences you, not about putting a fortress around you to keep away from sinners.

Transition: Therefore, in knowing that our choices of friends or family greatly influence our thinking, let us choose wisely. Now, how can we implement this?

Point #3 - Choose Discipleship.

Any relationship that is meaningful requires trust which takes time. What kills trust is arrogant and disrespectful attitude. What builds trust is honesty and safety in guarding what is shared from being CBC radio. Within the disciple/disciple maker relationship this is imperative.

For both it begins with humility which is the opposite of pride. It is a quality found perfectly in Jesus who left his throne in glory to come to earth to live in this human flesh. For the disciple, humility is critical to being teachable. Remember from my introduction to Proverbs that an unteachable spirit is like a cardinal sin. How can you become wise if you won’t hear instruction, accept a loving rebuke or follow the example of the wise man or woman? Being humble is going to allow you to endure and become wise.

First of all, since you become wise be walking or following wise men and women, you need to be humble. Humility is the opposite of pride. It is a quality found perfectly in Jesus who left his throne in glory to come to earth to live in this human flesh. Humility is critical to being teachable. Remember from my introduction to Proverbs that an unteachable spirit is like a cardinal sin. How can you become wise if you won’t hear instruction, accept a loving rebuke or follow the example of the wise man or woman? Being humble is going to allow you to endure and become wise.

For the disciple maker or the wise man or woman. There is a real struggle for people with being called wise. Is it because we think that we need to be perfect in order to be wise? Is it a fear that to be considered a wise person that there is now a higher standard to keep in public and private? For much of my life, this has been my struggle. I believe this comes from a misunderstanding.

Let us start at the beginning of what makes us wise. When God gave you a new heart of flesh and took the blinders off your spiritual eyes you saw your sin for the first time. Upon hearing the gospel message, you saw the mercy of God in giving you forgiveness. With the gift of saving grace and faith from the hand of God, you turned from sinful living. You saw that it was damning you to hell for treason against the living God. You then looked to Jesus Christ as your Saviour and were forgiven, receiving eternal life and God’s Spirit. That moment was the wisest choice you ever made. Now as a Christian, you follow Jesus and walk with the wisest God-Man. By following Jesus, doing the work that he has already done on your behalf you mature in your faith and become wiser.

To know what being wise is, let us start at the beginning. When God gave you a new heart of flesh and took the blinders off your spiritual eyes to see your sin, upon hearing the gospel, you saw the mercy of God in giving you forgiveness. With the gift of saving grace and faith from the hand of God, you turned from sinful living. You saw that it was damning you to hell for treason against the living God. You then looked to Jesus Christ as your Saviour and were forgiven, receiving eternal life and God’s Spirit. That moment was the wisest choice you ever made. As a Christian, you follow Jesus and walk with the wisest God-Man. By following Jesus, doing the work that he has already done on your behalf you become wiser. This is maturing in the faith and we never stop maturing until we are glorified.

So as a believer you already are wise, but time makes you wiser. Following spiritually mature people makes you wiser with which you help others become wise. Think Great Commission. This is how the church is supposed to function. Paul states “Follow me as I follow Christ.” This is discipleship 101. If you are a Christian 5 minutes more than the next believer, you are already wiser.

So the

As a disciple maker, love and humility are your greatest virtues. Paul instructs that when we teach others we are to be patient. We are to correct bad theology with gentleness. We need to have courage to rebuke when needed so as to save the disciples soul from long term harm. Snatching them out of the fire Jude tells us.

Now for the disciple, it also begins with love and humility. For any believer, your greatest enemy is pride. Pride is one of Satan’s greatest tools. It makes you stubborn in thinking you got it all figured out. Pride keeps us from seeing a need for God and his salvation, pride keeps us from thinking we need to change our ways, therefore we need to daily mortify this sinful attitude.

Humility is critical to being teachable. Remember from my introduction to Proverbs that an unteachable spirit is a cardinal sin. How can you become wise if you won’t hear instruction, accept a loving rebuke or follow the example of the wise man or woman? Being humble is going to allow you to endure, mature, bear good fruit and become wise.

Brothers and sisters, let us remember why we want to be disciples and makers of disciples. We were saved from our slavery to sin and its condemnation. In receiving a stamp “paid in full” by Jesus on that cross, we now live differently. Out of love for Christ we now obey and are empowered by the Spirit to do so. Even if it often looks like a train wreck. Jesus gave clear instructions for the church to be disciples and to make disciples. If the church is to be healthy, we need to encourage one another to become wise by walking...living with wiser people.

Now for the disciple, it begins with humility which is the opposite of pride. It is a quality found perfectly in Jesus who left his throne in glory to come to earth to live in this human flesh. For the disciple, humility is critical to being teachable. Remember from my introduction to Proverbs that an unteachable spirit is like a cardinal sin. How can you become wise if you won’t hear instruction, accept a loving rebuke or follow the example of the wise man or woman? Being humble is going to allow you to endure and become wise.

Application:

Who do you trust? One must look carefully at who you trust right now. Are they wise? Are they followers of Christ? If the ones closest to us that bend our ear are not of Christ, you need to make some hard decisions. In love, you will need to cut that influence off. I am not saying abandoning them, not at all. What I am saying is that while you still have coffee or go fishing with them or share laughter at family gatherings, you guard your heart from foolish counsel.

Talk to wise people. Ask them if they would disciple you. Don’t be discouraged if they say not at this time as timeline or certain circumstances in their life may not work at this time for them. Keep looking.

Fear not wise men and women. Try not to be intimidated when someone asks you to disciple them. You are not expected to be perfect as no one can. What the young person or young believer needs is someone who is faithful and working out their salvation with a holy fear of the LORD. For starters, make a short commitment, say try meeting every other Thursday evening from 7-9 for 3 months. That is meeting 6 times. When completed, assess how things are going in how to proceed. Talk to me and we can go over some things that would be helpful when meeting.

(Unbelieving in coffee shop - love them, evangelize but again guard against their worldview that is skewed)

Conclusion:

Recite proverb. Where will you spend eternity? Is it heaven or hell? If you love to walk in your sinful lifestyle, you are foolish and will suffer eternal harm. But if you see your sin as an attack on your Creator and that you deserve judgement, turn to Christ and be wise. Be forgiven, be filled with joy and gladness in knowing that you are finally free to rightly serve God for his glory.

Conclusion: As a Christian, we made the wisest decision. Growing in wisdom is expected out of reverence for Christ in what he has done for us on the cross. Solomon writes that simply by hanging out with wise people, you will become wise. To be a companion with fools, to trust unbelievers to guide your life is to intentionally choose to be foolish and you will suffer harm. Therefore, choose to follow Lady Wisdom’s call for there is nothing more important in your life then becoming wise. Let us make good choices for life.

Benediction: [5] May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, [6] that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

[5] May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, [6] that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)