Making Choices

Making Choices
Question: Ever wonder why there were 2 crosses next to Christ? Ever wonder why Jesus was in the center? Why not on the far left or far right? Could it be that the two crosses on the hill symbolized one of God's greatest gifts? The gift of choice! We could either choose to accept him or reject him. The choice is ours. To follow Him or to choose the world. (Thanks Sharon Hadley for postings this.)

When it comes right down to it everything is a choice. Every situation is a choice. Positive or negative, good day or bad, angry not angry, all are choices. How we choose to live each day is up to us, but we have to live with the consequences. There are many who claim the devil made me do it, or I am only human, or that is just who I am. What they fail to realize is that when it comes down to it, the decision was a choice and they did whatever it was because they wanted to.

25 The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. 26 Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. So they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
27 As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.
29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)
31 “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”
32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”
33 But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn. (Genesis 25:25-34)

I. Learn to be patient when making decisions (v.30).

Esau was not a patient man. He was hungry, and he wanted to eat now! He had been working all day and was tired. He had been out in the hot sun hunting and walking around. That takes a toll on you after a while, especially when you haven’t eaten. He was hungry and he was not going to wait to eat.

Does this sound familiar? We live in a culture that teaches “I want what I want when I want it, and I don’t want to wait.” We want it NOW! We teach our children to go out and get something if they want it. Often our attitude leads to problems.

Esau made a decision without being patient and lost something very dear to him- his birthright. Esau chose what was easiest and what would bring the most satisfaction immediately. The easiest choice is not always the right choice, but usually the wrong choice.

Everyday people make decisions without being patient and as a result lose something dear to them. Make the wrong choice and you can lose your family, job, even your character and sometimes your life.

Jesus made a decision that would affect the whole world for all of history. It was not an easy choice, but a very difficult one. He struggled with the fact that He would take on the sin of the entire world. He prayed in the garden the night before His crucifixion, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39b) But He chose God’s will not His and chose to die on the cross for our sins. He was buried and rose again to give us new life. He was patient in his choice. Had he chosen during a weak moment (like the garden) he might not have done it. Praise God Jesus died for you and me!

II. Consider the consequences when making decisions (v.31-32).

A birthright is a foreign thing to us. The birthright in those days meant that the firstborn son obtained the largest portion of the inheritance. The birthright included a blessing from the father, a double portion of the inheritance, and the right to rule over the entire family when the father was gone. This is a major position to have. This was Esau’s position. As the first born, he inherited the birthright and the authority in the family. For him to sell his birthright would have major consequences.

Jacob was a deceiver. He would do whatever he had to do to get what he wanted. This time was no different. He wanted the birthright. He found Esau at a vulnerable moment and moved in.

Esau never once considered the consequences of his actions. He only wanted to fill his stomach.
The drunk never considers the consequences when they climb behind the wheel of a car.
The spouse never considers the consequence when they have the affair.
The people never considered the consequences when they crucified Jesus..
The lost person never considers the consequences of rejecting Christ.
Every choice has consequences. A good choice has positive consequences; a poor choice has poor consequences. We must live with the consequences of what we do.
What are we willing to pay?

Esau was willing to pay way too much for a bowl of soup and some bread. He was willing to pay whatever it took. How often do we sell out for a measly bowl of soup? Too often we are willing as Esau was, to pay far to great a price for what we want.

We want fun- even at the expense of others
Kids want to be cool- make fun of the kid at school.
We want prosperity- we give up our integrity
We want live life and settle down later- later is often too late for God.

The question that we must ask ourselves is what am I willing to pay for what I want? If we will stop and weigh the consequences of our actions we will often find the price is far too much to pay for a mere bowl of stew.

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus told us to enter through the narrow gate- choose Him for he is life and fulfillment. Few will choose Him. He is the one who gives abundant life, hope, peace, salvation. Many will trade their souls and their opportunity for salvation for one more hoorah.

What about us Christians? Are we willing to sell the blessings and abundant life in Christ for an indulgence of things of this earth? Things that does not please God? What are we willing to pay for fleshly pleasure? Are we willing to sell our relationship with God for so-called personal gain?

The choice is up to us. We must learn to be patient in our decisions, consider the consequences, and ask what am I willing to pay?