Making the Right Decision

1 Kings 3:16-28

Well, we have been dealt a crazy week. If you are like me, you are probably ready for this year to be over and that everything can just start over as normal. But as much as I would like to see that happen, I don’t think we are going to see normal for a long time, if ever. But that shouldn’t stop us in our resolve to serve Christ.

This week, we had to make some decisions that we didn’t like, but we had to make a decision that we felt was right. So, you’re watching us online, and we are here in an mostly empty building. Because of what is going on, it made me think of a particular passage in the bible, where an unusual decision was made, but in the end it revealed the Lord to a nation.

Our passage today is in 1 Kings 3:16-28

I’m not going to preach a message like we are normally accustomed too, but I want to draw on some key points to this passage to help us in our walk with Jesus.

1. People could come to the king, no matter their background - 16

a. We sometimes get bothered with people coming to us with their problems.

b. The king could have made the decision to not hear their case.

c. The king was just as concerned with their problem as he was the nations problems.

2. The problem of the Harlots – 17-22

a. Now here were two women who had a difference with each other.

b. One of the women made a poor decision and it cost her, her child.

c. When we make poor decisions, it often leads to more poor decisions.

d. We try to solve our problems with sinful actions.

e. One of the women made the right decision by bringing her problem before the King.

f. How much better our lives would be if we would just seek Jesus when we are faced with a dilemma.

3. The King’s Unique Decision – 23-25

a. Solomon’s decision seems unexpected, not the typical way we think things should be handled.

b. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

c. The way the Lord does things in life may seem a little out there for us, but the Lord has a reason behind every decision he makes.

d. The reason we are at home today, is because the Lord wants us to realize how much we need him.

4. The Women’s Reaction – 26-27

a. Now the women responses are startling. One thinks this is a great plan, the other fears for her child.

b. Listen one who is seeking the Lord and the righteous path, will be willing to let go of the thing they love the most. Until we are willing to let go and let God, we are going to find ourselves like the other woman, not caring at all.

c. Let me ask you, do you care what is happening to this world? Do you care what is happening to the church? Do you care what is happening to others?

d. Listen we ought to care for life!

5. The Wisdom Shown by Solomon.

a. This case was just as big as Rhode vs Wade case. Yet, here is a man who didn’t chose his own way, he chose God’s way.

b. When you make godly decisions, people are going to take notice.

c. A nation chose to revere God and have fear for Him.

d. Listen, you can have the wisdom that Solomon had, if you would just seek God for the answer.

e. What is your decision today?