Have you ever thought about what “super hero power” you would like to have? Probably the one I most often think about would be the ability to be in more than one place at a time. Sometimes it feels like there are too many opportunities, too many responsibilities, and too little me. Do you ever have that feeling?
It seems that we share a common dilemma when it comes to making choices. I’m not talking about choosing between good and bad. I’m not even talking about choosing between good, better, and best (that sounds so simple in theory). Sometimes it appears that our choices are between good and … good!
So, how can we be happy with one choice and have no regrets about the others? My personal opinion is that the Bible is a good place to look for direction. So what does Jesus say about choices?
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). No pressure!
I once heard someone say, “The road is narrow, but we get to use the whole road.” That stuck with me, and the more I have thought about it, the more I am convinced that it is Biblically sound.
The road is narrow, but we get to use the whole road. Click To Tweet
I did a search of the concept of choices in the Bible. Here’s what I found: the word “choice” is found 34 times in the New International Version, “chosen” – 125, “chose” – 45, “choose” – 66, “choices” – 0. The vast majority of those occurrences are talking about God’s choice, not ours. Hmmm.
Here’s one that is talking about ours: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15).
It seems that the pivotal choice for us is whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15), which sets the direction of our lives (Matthew 7:13-14). Within those parameters, we are able to exercise a considerable amount of discretion in our choices.
With that in mind, I’ve thought of 4 questions that may help us to make good choices without experiencing regret over what we choose to decline.
1. Will my choice do anything to dishonor God or undermine my life’s choice to serve Him?
2. Can God be glorified in my choice and will I behave in such a way that He will be?
3. Can I make this choice joyfully?
4. Are there ways I can demonstrate faith, love, and respect in the choices I decline?
HOW we choose matters as much to God as WHAT we choose.
