Choices that we make | Rev. Abiodun Adesanya

Main Scriptures

Genesis 25:27–34
Deuteronomy 30:19–20

Supporting Scriptures

1 Peter 3:12–17
Psalm 119:11
Proverbs 11:14
Hebrews 11:8, 25–27

INTRODUCTION

Every day, we make choices.

Some choices are simple and ordinary — what to wear, what to eat, how to travel, or what time to leave home. Other choices require much deeper thought because they have the potential to affect our future.

The important thing to understand is that our choices have consequences.

Many of the situations we experience today are connected to choices we made yesterday. In the same way, some of the choices we make today will determine what tomorrow looks like.

Therefore, we must learn how to make the right choices.

ESAU: A CHOICE THAT AFFECTED DESTINY

Genesis 25:27–34

Esau and Jacob were brothers, but they lived differently.

Esau was a skilful hunter and a man of the field, while Jacob preferred to remain around the tents.

One day, Esau returned from the field exhausted and hungry. Jacob had prepared food, and Esau asked him for some.

Jacob responded:

“Sell me this day thy birthright.”

Esau looked at his immediate condition and said, in effect:

“I am about to die. What good is this birthright to me?”

And because of his hunger, Esau sold his birthright for a meal.

The hunger was temporary.

The birthright had generational significance.

Yet Esau allowed a temporary situation to influence a permanent decision.

The lesson:

Never allow the pressure of the present moment to make you sacrifice your future.

Esau was genuinely hungry, but hunger was not enough reason to surrender his birthright.

He could have waited.

He could have found another solution.

But instead, he exchanged something valuable and lasting for something temporary.

Be careful what you exchange because of temporary pressure.

Don’t exchange:

• your destiny for temporary satisfaction;
• your integrity for temporary advantage;
• your relationship with God for temporary pleasure;
• your future for immediate gratification.

A temporary situation should not determine a permanent destiny.

GOD GIVES US THE POWER TO CHOOSE

Deuteronomy 30:19–20

God said:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life…”

God presented the choices.

He also gave His recommendation:

CHOOSE LIFE.

God does not remove our ability to choose.

He gives us direction, but we still have responsibility for the choices we make.

This connects beautifully with God as Jehovah Rohi — the Lord our Shepherd.

A shepherd can lead the sheep to green pasture, but the sheep must eat.

The shepherd can lead the sheep to water, but the sheep must drink.

Likewise, God leads us, directs us and reveals His will to us — but we must choose whether to follow His direction.

EVERY CHOICE HAS A CONSEQUENCE

Think about a traffic light.

There may be no police officer standing beside the traffic light physically preventing you from driving through a red light.

You have the ability to go.

You have the freedom to make that choice.

But your freedom to choose does not remove the consequences of the choice.

The same principle applies to life.

We can choose whether to follow instructions.

We can choose whether to obey God.

We can choose our relationships.

We can choose how we respond when people hurt us.

But:

WE CANNOT CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR CHOICES.

Freedom to choose does not mean freedom from consequences.

PRINCIPLES FOR MAKING WISE CHOICES

1. ALWAYS CHOOSE LIFE

Deuteronomy 30:19

When faced with a decision, ask:

Does this choice produce life or destruction?

Choose things that:

• build rather than destroy;
• restore rather than tear down;
• honour God;
• honour others;
• protect your future;
• move you towards God’s purpose.

Even when you have been offended, revenge should not become your choice.

Choose life.

Esau was hungry, but satisfying his hunger did not justify sacrificing his birthright.

Not everything you strongly desire in the moment is worth what it may cost you tomorrow.

2. ALIGN YOUR CHOICES WITH THE WORD OF GOD

Psalm 119:11

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

When a decision is difficult, test it against God’s Word.

Ask:

What does Scripture say about this?

Does this decision agree with God’s character?

Will this choice honour God?

The more God’s Word lives in us, the easier it becomes to recognise what aligns with His will.

Don’t simply make important decisions based on feelings.

Test your choices by the Word.

3. WALK WITH WISE PEOPLE

The people around us influence the choices we make.

If the people closest to you continually encourage ungodly responses, eventually their thinking can influence yours.

Scripture teaches that walking with the wise produces wisdom.

Therefore:

Choose your circle carefully.

Surround yourself with people who:

• know God;
• honour God’s Word;
• encourage righteousness;
• tell you the truth;
• challenge you when necessary;
• want God’s purpose for your life.

The people you allow to speak into your life can influence the direction of your life.

4. SEEK GODLY COUNSEL

Proverbs 11:14

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

When making significant decisions, seek counsel.

But remember:

Not every counsellor is the right counsellor.

Someone being your friend, colleague, manager or relative does not automatically qualify that person to counsel you concerning your destiny.

Choose your counsellors carefully.

Seek people who possess:

• godly wisdom;
• spiritual maturity;
• sound judgement;
• understanding of God’s Word.

There is safety in godly counsel.

5. CHOOSE OBEDIENCE

Sometimes the reason a decision feels extremely difficult is because we already know what God wants us to do — but we are struggling to obey.

Hebrews 11:8

When God called Abraham to leave his country and go to a place God would show him, Abraham obeyed even though he did not know exactly where he was going.

His willingness to obey made the choice possible.

Moses also chose identification with God’s people rather than the temporary pleasures and treasures of Egypt.

Faith and obedience help us make godly choices.

When your heart is already committed to obeying God, many decisions become clearer.

6. ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE YOU

As believers, we have the Holy Spirit — the Spirit of Truth.

For important decisions:

Pray.

Search the Word.

Listen to the Holy Spirit.

Seek godly counsel where necessary.

Don’t rush simply because circumstances are putting you under pressure.

When you are uncertain about a major decision:

CHECK.

CROSS-CHECK.

PRAY.

SEARCH THE WORD.

CHECK AGAIN.

A delayed decision can sometimes be corrected.

A rushed permanent decision may be much harder to undo.

7. DON’T MAKE PERMANENT DECISIONS BECAUSE OF TEMPORARY SITUATIONS

This is one of the greatest lessons from Esau’s story.

Esau had a temporary problem:

Hunger.

But he made a permanent decision:

He sold his birthright.

The meal lasted for a short time.

The consequences reached far beyond that moment.

Grace and mercy could restore Esau in many ways, but his decision still carried consequences.

So when you are:

• angry,
• disappointed,
• lonely,
• frustrated,
• under pressure,
• offended,
• financially challenged,
• emotionally overwhelmed,

be careful about making life-changing decisions.

Don’t allow a temporary feeling to determine a permanent future.

CONCLUSION — LET THE SHEPHERD LEAD

“The Lord is my shepherd…”

One of the responsibilities of a shepherd is to lead and direct.

God wants to lead us.

He wants to direct our relationships.

He wants to direct our careers.

He wants to direct our families.

He wants to direct our decisions.

But when the Shepherd leads, we must choose to follow.

God said:

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing…”

Then He lovingly gave us the answer:

“THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE.”

Your choices today can affect your tomorrow.

Your choices can affect your family.

Your choices can affect your destiny.

And some choices can affect generations after you.

Therefore, don’t trade what is permanent for what is temporary.

Don’t trade your birthright for a bowl of stew.

Let the Word guide you.

Let godly wisdom counsel you.

Let the Holy Spirit direct you.

Let Jehovah Rohi, your Shepherd, lead you.

MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

Closing Prayer

Father, give us wisdom to make the right choices. Help us not to sacrifice our future because of the pressures of today. Give us grace to hear Your voice, obey Your Word and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. May the choices we make bring life, blessing and fulfilment of Your purpose for us and for the generations after us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.