The Winning Life: Making Good Decisions                                           Restoration Fellowship

Proverbs 12:15; 14:12; 21:2                                                                                  March 18, 2012

INTRO: Much attention today is on two sports stories: NCAA March Madness and the travels and ultimate final destination of Hall of Fame quarterback Payton Manning.  In each of these instances you hear a term used over and over: making good decisions.  Basketball teams must learn to make good decisions in a split second as to passing and shot selection.  Payton Manning is valued not only for his arm and quick release but also for his head!  He almost always makes good decisions as to what to do with the football.

Good decisions are essential to having a winning team and a winning life.  Wrong decisions lead to losses on the athletic field and delays and devastation in life.

The book of Proverbs has many principles we can employ to help us make good  decisions as we walk through life.

TEXTS

 

The way of a fool  is  right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel  is  wise. (Proverbs 12:15 NKJV)

There is a way  that seems  right to a man, But its end  is  the way of death. (Proverbs 14:12 NKJV) (Proverbs 16:25 NKJV)

Every way of a man  is  right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2 NKJV)

An Old Problem

You shall not at all do as we are doing here today, every man doing whatever  is  right in his own eyes (Deuteronomy 12:8 NKJV)

In those days  there was  no king in Israel; everyone did  what was  right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 NKJV) (Judges 21:25 NKJV)

A mentor of mine, Manley Beasley, once said that "if you want to know what God wants you to do, just think about what man would naturally do and do the opposite!".  I do not think he was far off!  Paul wrote that "the natural man does not receive the things of God because they are foolishness to him.

If that is the case, let's examine some keys from Proverbs 10-12 to see how we can make decisions that are pleasing to God and will bring us success in life...

1.      A good decision is a righteous decision...  

1.      Right, righteous, righteousness all come from a root meaning just, moral, clean

a.      Tesidke, tesidkenu, "The Lord Our Righteousness"

2.      How do we determine a righteous decision?

a.      A righteous decision is one that God can bless.

                                                                          i.      Blessings  are  on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:6 NKJV)

b.      A righteous decision is one that will bring good memories, not regrets.

                                                                          i.      The memory of the righteous  is  blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. (Proverbs 10:7 NKJV)

c.      A righteous decision is one that when you talk about it, life springs up.

                                                                          i.      The mouth of the righteous  is  a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 10:11 NKJV)

d.      A righteous decision produces life and fruit.

                                                                          i.      The labor of the righteous  leads  to life, The wages of the wicked to sin. (Proverbs 10:16 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.  (Proverbs 11:28 NKJV)

                                                                      iii.      The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.  (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV)

                                                                      iv.      The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.  (Proverbs 12:12 NKJV)

e.      A righteous decision is filled with peace and hope.

                                                                          i.      The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted. (Proverbs 10:24 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      The hope of the righteous  will be  gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish. (Proverbs 10:28 NKJV)

                                                                      iii.      And let the peace of God rule in your hearts... (Colossians 3:15 NKJV)

f.        A righteous decision will have have a lasting impact.

                                                                          i.      When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked  is  no  more,  But the righteous  has  an everlasting foundation. (Proverbs 10:25 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      The righteous will never be removed, But the wicked will not inhabit the earth. (Proverbs 10:30 NKJV)

g.      A righteous decision will be a blessing to our city.

                                                                          i.      When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.  By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.  (Proverbs 11:10-11NKJV)

h.     A righteous decision will not be deceitful or manipulated

                                                                          i.      The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.  (Proverbs 11:18 NKJV)

                                                                        ii.      Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy.  (Proverbs 12:20 NKJV)

i.        A righteous decision will be a blessing to our descendants.

                                                                          i.      Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.  (Proverbs 11:21 NKJV)

j.         A righteous decision will consider the innocent.

                                                                          i.      A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.  (Proverbs 12:10 NKJV)

2.      A good decision will be surrounded by good counsel.

a.      Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.  (Proverbs 11:14 NKJV)

b.      The thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.  (Proverbs 12:5 NKJV)

c.      The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.  (Proverbs 12:26 NKJV)

We should seek the counsel of our spouse, our spiritual authorities (parents, pastors, teachers), civil authorities, and most of all, the Lord (in prayer)!  Why...

3.      A good decision will have the touch of God on it.

a.      Let me quote Manley Beasley one more time, "If there is any other explanation for your life other than God, your are not living where He wants you to live."

b.      The Lord will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.  (Proverbs 10:3 NKJV)

What do we do when we know we have made the wrong decision?

          Acknowledge it.

          Confess it.

          Correct it.

          Turn it.

          Learn it.