Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:15

Introduction

A. Of all the gifts that God has bestowed upon His creation, the greatest are those that belong exclusively to man.

B. One of the grandest of these gifts is the power to choose.

C. There are some things that we get to choose and others that we don’t. Where will you choose to put your focus?

Discussion

I. Although we seldom have much control over things that happen to us, we can always control our own response.

A. Examples of those who made admirable choices in difficult circumstances include David, Nabal’s wife (1 Samuel 25), Joseph, and Moses (Hebrews 11:25).

B. Others like Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:11–13). Saul (1 Samuel 15:15, 21) and Ahab (1 Kings 18:17–18) refused to take responsibility for their choices.

C. What we often find is that our choices in time affect our condition (Genesis 41:37–45; 19:23–38).

D. If we want to be happy, we must learn to be content (1 Timothy 6:8; Philippians 4:11).

II. We can choose responses, but not consequences.

A. We cannot choose the consequences for doing wrong (Genesis 4:13; Hebrews 12:17; Luke 16:25; Romans 13:4; 6:23).

B. We cannot choose the consequences for doing right (Genesis 39:7–20; Daniel 3:15–18; 1 Peter 4:16).

C. We cannot blame our sins on someone else or expect another to bear the guilt (Exodus 32:33; Ezekiel 18:20).

III. We need to focus on things within our control.

A. There is no profit in worrying about things that we cannot influence (Matthew 6:25–34; Philippians 4:6–7).

B. There is no benefit in worrying about others and what they do (John 21:22; Joshua 24:15; 2 Timothy 4:7–10).

C. We should choose carefully in matters of religion (Joshua 24:15), marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14), and lifestyle.

D. Because some choices are made faster than we can think, we must train our minds (Psalms 119:111).

E. There are some choices that we cannot make because God has already made them (Numbers 16; 1 Chronicles 15).

Conclusion

A. It seems that most people merely react to the ever-changing weather of life and blame others for their misfortunes.

B. Will you make the choice to follow Jesus no matter what?