Decisions Decisions Decisions…

1 corinthians 10:24 – 33 teaches us how to make decisions.

I’m tossing around a lot of ideas – a lot of goals.  Any decisions I make don’t simply involve myself.  It would be far easier but not nearly as exciting.  It’s pretty awesome to know that your life – the decisions you make – affect many many people.  Spouses, children, friends, neighbors, co-workers…etc.

In one sense that reality can seem overwhelming.  All these people to please and will I ever get to make a decision that simply pleases me?  I can already hear the chorus of people saying “It’s not about you”.  I disagree.  If it wasn’t about me then God would have never taken the time to create me.  It’s about me, it’s about you, it’s about us.  When I’m stronger I make you stronger.  When you’re loving life, it brings me even more joy.  We are interwoven.

So how do I make an effective decision?  I believe it has everything to do with what pleases God and His purposes. It’s about taking what He’s placed in me and using it to please Him which ultimately brings me pleasure.  So when I make decisions about my life’s direction I need to make sure that I remember:

We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

• I’ve always heard that we can’t love our neighbor until we learn how to love ourselves.  Most people stop there, not realizing that’s only half right.  I’ve spent years not really knowing how to love myself yet still able to love my neighbor.  In fact I think I learned HOW to love myself by loving others.  Not necessarily people like me – but those that ruffle my feathers, those that opinions differ from mine, those that challenge me by not always agreeing with me.  It’s those people that have actually helped me discover myself and new strengths.

We are called to bring people out of darkness.

• Ever heard the saying “stick with me and we’ll go places”?  I get concerned when I find I’m too comfortable, too confident in myself and my ability to lead people.  I have a natural charisma that enables me to meet and embrace many people.  If I don’t remember that this is a gift from God that enables me to bring people closer to Him then I’ve failed.  I’ve lived selfishly.  It’s all about bringing God glory – about empowering people to see God more clearly.  It might start with me shaking someone’s hand and enjoying some mutual laughter but it has to all point to God so when they leave my presence they remain in His – then touching others in the same manner.

I have many decisions every day to make.  I wouldn’t be living life to it’s fullest if they didn’t affect others.  It’s exciting – it’s humbling – it’s risky.

~ by Jen Chappell on September 15, 2009.