Dr. Adrian Rogers once preached a sermon that had great impact on my life. The sermon was titled, “Decision Determines Destiny.” Friend, life is about decisions. You cannot go through life without making decisions. In fact, your life will be remembered by the sum total of the decisions you have made. In Genesis chapter 13, we learn about two men. The first is Abraham, the Father of the Jewish people, a man who loved God and whom the Bible refers to as a “friend” to God. The other man is his nephew, Lot.
Both of these men were followers of God, they were saved men. 2 Peter refers to Lot as a “righteous” man, a “justified” man. However, at a deeper inspection of this passage of Scripture you find that even though Lot was a righteous man, he was also a very carnal man. For our purposes today, we are going to see Abraham as a “spiritually minded” man, and Lot as a “Carnally, fleshly minded” man. And friend, this is important, because even if you are a Christian, you have both voices speaking in your mind every-time you have a decision to make.
Understand this dear one, Decisions Reveal Your Priorities! In this chapter, God reveals the land that He is giving to Abraham. In turn, Abraham turns to Lot and offers him a piece of the land. Lot could choose any piece of land he wanted. Lot made his choice, but friend, his choice was based on selfish priorities. He chose that piece of property that would give him the quickest return on his money even though it placed him and his family near the wicked city of Sodom.
Now Abraham made an unselfish decision. He was the patriarch of the family. He could have chosen what he wanted and gave Lot what was left. He didn’t do that, he humbled himself because he wasn’t looking for a quick return on his investment. No, he was looking for something greater.
Hebrews 11: 8-10 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Abraham had his eyes set on God. His priorities were not about himself, but on what God would want for him. Here is the challenge you and I face when we are at the crossroads of a decision. Do we make our decision based on our selfish wants and desires, what we think would benefit us the most, or do we stop and consider God in the equation. What choice does He want us to make.
Friend, God has given us some sound advice when it comes to decision-making. First of all, God says for us to Seek Wise Counsel.
Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,”
Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.”
Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.”
Second, God has given to us the Holy Spirit and His Holy Word to help guide us in making decision.
Psalm 119: 105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.”
Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.”
Friends, remember your decisions determine your destiny. Therefore, take God’s advice and make wise decisions!