Deciding the right thing to do

Choices determine destiny.

So much of what we do on a daily basis is driven by our emotions, our desire for pleasure. Day in and day out we make small choices. Once in a while, there is an important choice that we are faced with. We do stop and think about these, weighing the sides of varying paths. We usually do not give much thought to all the small choices we make on a daily basis - not really realizing that in aggregate they all add up to driving us to our destiny.

Today in church we learned 6 valuable words and associated questions that we should apply to all we do in order to assist us in making sound decisions that will provide us joy in life and ultimately to a destiny that we will cherish and not regret. As our pastor explained - the Bible is not a rule book but rather a guide book. Keeping these questions in mind as we go about our daily lives and choosing to do certain things and not others will certainly lead us to joy.

• Expediency (helpful) 1 Corinthians 6:12a
• Question: Does it help me or does it hinder me?
• Note: Before doing something simply determine if it is something that helps me or builds me or others. If it is something that will deter my development and not improve it, I should refrain from doing it.

• Enslavement 1 Corinthians 6:12b
• Question: Will this thing enslave me?
• Note: To be free doesn't mean free to do what I want but rather free to do what I ought to do.

• Example 1 Corinthians 8:9, Romans 14:13,21
• Question: Will it cause someone else to be hurt?
• Note: What you are doing may not hurt you, but it may impact or hurt others. What I do - will it wound someone else's conscience? Will it cause someone else to sin? Will it drag someone else down? If it will, for their sake, leave it alone - stay away from it. (Romans 14:7)

• Edification 1 Corinthians 10:23b
• Question: Will it build me up?
• Note: Am I a better person for doing this? 

• Exaltation 1 Corinthians 10:31
• Question: Does it exalt (glorify) Jesus?

• Evangelism 1 Corinthians 10:32,33
• Question: Will it hinder my witness?