11-28-2021 - Sermon - Good Intention, Bad Decision

INTRODUCTION

I want to preach to you this morning on the subject of Good Intention, Bad Decision. Have you ever tried to do something good, but just royally messed things up? You had the best of intentions, but you ended up making a bad decision. Good intentions do not always bring about good results. We can have good intentions, but end up making a bad decision, which can result in painful consequences. In today’s message, we are going to look at the story of a man by the name of Uzzah who had a good intention, but made a bad decision, which resulted in tragic consequences for him. We are also going to look at how we can avoid making the mistake of Good Intention, Bad Decision and trust God to help us make the right decision.

SCRIPTURE

2 Samuel 6:1–10 KJV 1900

1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? 10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

MESSAGE

Uzzah’s Good Intention becomes a Bad Decision

The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant.

It caused the Philistines so much torment that they sent it back to Israel (1 Samuel 6).

It was kept temporarily at the house of Abinadab (1 Samuel 7).

In 2 Samuel 6, David prepares to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem.

Abinadab’s two sons, Ahio and Uzzah, were tasked with transporting the Ark.

They placed it on a new cart, pulled by oxen, and began the journey.

GOOD INTENTION, BAD DECISION

Bringing the Ark back to Jerusalem was a GOOD INTENTION.

However, the method they used to transport the Ark was a BAD DECISION.

God had given the Israelites specific instructions on how the Ark was to be moved (Numbers 4:15)

First, a specific family of the Levites, the Kohathites, were the only ones permitted to carry the Ark.

Second, the Kohathites were commanded to carry the Ark on their shoulders. There were two poles that were used to transport the Ark.

Third, the Kohathites were commanded not to touch the Ark or the holy things contained within it. The punishment for disobedience to this commandment was death.

David, Abinidab, Ahio, Uzzah and the rest of the Israelites would have, or at least should have, known these commandments.

But as they were transporting the ark, one of the oxen stumbled.

A previous BAD DECISION now creates a crisis moment for Uzzah that never should have happened.

Out of concern for the safety of the Ark, Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Ark to try to stabilize it and keep it from falling off the cart and being damaged.

GOOD INTENTION, BAD DECISION

Being concerned about the safety of the Ark and trying to protect it was a GOOD INTENTION.

But disobeying God’s command to not touch the Ark was a BAD DECISION.

I almost want to feel bad for Uzzah. He was put in a difficult situation and he made a rash decision on the spur of a moment.

He thought he was making the right decision at the time, but it turned out to be the wrong decision with immediate and fatal consequences.

Our Good Intentions can result in Bad Decisions

Some might think:

“How could God do this?”

“Couldn’t God have overlooked this just this one time?”

“I mean, surely God could have let Uzzah off on a technicality, right?”

“Chastise him, teach him a lesson, and move on.”

“It is not that big of a deal, right?”

Wrong!

God makes the rules.

We don’t get to decide what is right and what is wrong.

We don’t get to “do what is right in our own eyes.”

God’s Word is the standard.

Anything that falls short of His standard is sin.

And the wages of sin is death.

GOOD INTENTIONS do not nullify or supersede God’s Word.

No matter how good our intentions are, if we disobey the Word of God it is a sin.

Whether Intentional or Unintentional.

Whether through Foreknowledge or Ignorance.

Whether by Commission or Omission.

What are some ways our own GOOD INTENTIONS can lead to BAD DECISIONS?

We can make BAD DECISIONS when we act before we think.

Let’s look back at what caused Uzzah to sin.

Uzzah made a split-second, rash decision.

He, at least momentarily, either forgot or ignored God’s commandment and responded in the way he thought was best at the time.

Again, protecting the Ark…GOOD INTENTION.

Disobeying God and touching the Ark…BAD DECISION.

How often do we make rash decisions because it seems best to us at the time without considering God’s Word or praying for guidance first?

When we do this, we take God out of the situation and are left to the consequences of our own decisions.

We are to walk in the Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide our lives.

We should make decisions prayerfully.

Put your trust in God and He will direct your paths and His way is always the best way!

We can make BAD DECISIONS when we get impatient.

King Saul

Made a BAD DECISION because of his impatience.

He couldn’t wait any longer for Samuel to show up and perform the sacrifice.

The enemy was approaching and he couldn’t hold them off any longer.

So Saul took matters into his own hands and decided to perform the sacrifice himself.

Saul was king, not prophet or priest. He should have trusted God and waited for Samuel to perform the sacrifice.

Wanting to sacrifice to God before entering the battle…GOOD INTENTION.

Disobeying God’s commandments on how sacrifices were to be made because of lack of patience…BAD DECISION.

What about us?

We wait on the Lord for a while, but there is a limit to our patience.

We want God to give us the answer like we’re going through the fast food drive through line. We want it now and we want it super-sized.

If it doesn’t come when we want it, we get impatient and move forward with our own plans.

When we do this, we are showing a lack of faith and trust in God’s plans and timing.

You can’t hurry God. He may not come when you want Him, but He’s right on time.

We can also make BAD DECISIONS when we do what is right in our own eyes.

King Saul

Disobeyed God’s command to completely destroy the Amakelites (men, women, children, animals, everything).

He decided it was best to keep the best of the animals to present as a sacrifice to God.

Samuel rebuked Saul and pronounced that God would strip away the kingdom from Saul and give it to David, a man after God’s own heart.

Offering sacrifices to God…GOOD INTENTION.

Disobeying a direct commandment to destroy everything and do what is right in his own eyes…BAD DECISION.

What about us?

We know what God’s Word says, but for some reason we decide our way is better.

It’s like telling God: “I got this.”

Doesn’t the Bible say “our ways are higher than His ways” and “our thoughts are higher than His thoughts?”…oh wait…

The Road to Hell is Paved with GOOD INTENTIONS

GOOD INTENTIONS lead to BAD DECISIONS which can have severe CONSEQUENCES.

Sometimes those CONSEQUENCES affect only us.

More often, those CONSEQUENCES affect others as well.

GOOD INTENTIONS alone will not get you into Heaven.

“But (s)he meant well.”

Well bless their heart.

What does it mean that “they meant well?”

“Meant Well” won’t make it into heaven, only “Well Done” are going to make it!

Do you think they will stand before God and He look at all the sins recorded in His books and say, “Come on in…I’ll just ignore all this stuff recorded here…I know you meant well.”

Do you think God will look at Satan one day and go…“you know what…you meant well…I mean you were just trying to take on some additional leadership responsibility…you wanted to take charge of things in heaven…you went about it the wrong way…but you meant well.”

Sin is Sin

All sin will be judged.

The only way to avoid God’s judgment is to have our sins washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

GOOD INTENTIONS must be replaced with OBEDIENT FAITH.

We can sum up the issues with GOOD INTENTIONS resulting in BAD DECISIONS with the following phrase: “taking matters into our own hands.”

When we take matters into our own hands:

We take it out of God’s hands.

We show lack of faith in God’s plans.

We demonstrate lack of obedience to God’s commands.

When we walk in OBEDIENT FAITH:

We leave it in God’s hands.

We trust God’s plans.

We obey His commands.

As a result, we make GOOD DECISIONS with His guidance.

CLOSING

If you are currently facing decisions in your life, you don’t have to make a bad decision.

Don’t act before you think.

Trust God’s power.

Go to God in prayer and ask Him to give you direction.

Don’t get impatient.

Trust God’s timing.

Just be patient and trust that God will answer in His perfect timing.

Don’t do what is right in your own eyes.

Trust God's plans.

Don’t take matters into your own hands, but let God and God’s Word direct you path.

Have you allowed a GOOD INTENTION to turn into a BAD DECISION?

The good news is that you have the opportunity today to make it right.

You can still turn that bad decision into a good decision.

You can still repent and ask for forgiveness.

You can still go back and make restitution for the hurt you’ve caused.