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Today’s Decisions Affecting Tomorrow

Today’s Decisions Affecting Tomorrow Trevor Bowen Sunrise? Or, Sunset? Sunrise! 30 Minutes Later Introduction: Choose Wisdom The impact of many decisions is far-reaching and is often unapparent at the moment. Time reveals the wisdom or folly of our decisions.

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Today’s Decisions Affecting Tomorrow

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  1. Today’s Decisions Affecting Tomorrow Trevor Bowen

  2. Sunrise? Or, Sunset?

  3. Sunrise! 30 Minutes Later

  4. Introduction: Choose Wisdom • The impact of many decisions is far-reaching and is often unapparent at the moment. • Time reveals the wisdom or folly of our decisions. “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19)

  5. Introduction: Choose Wisdom • Foresight must be applied so that preparations can be made for tomorrow. • Remember the “Unjust Steward”: He planned for his “retirement” (Luke 16:1-9). • Remember, even the foolish reach out for wisdom – but too late (Proverbs 1:20-32; 5:11-14, 21-23).

  6. Introduction: Choose Wisdom “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, … Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, …” (Proverbs 1:23-31)

  7. Introduction: Choose Wisdom • Foresight must be applied so that preparations can be made for tomorrow. • Remember the “Unjust Steward” (Luke 16:1-9) • Remember, even the foolish reach out for wisdom – but too late (Proverbs 1:20-32; 5:11-14, 21-23) • Receive wisdom and instruction today!(Proverbs 2:1-11; 3:1-26; 4:1-13; 20-27; 5:1-2). • It brings: glory, honor, peace, joy, life, and salvation. • It enables you to bring the same to others (Proverbs 15:22-23; Psalm 37:30).

  8. Introduction: Choose Wisdom “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. … When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:5-13)

  9. Outline • Introduction: Choose Wisdom • Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • Godly Companions and Spouse • Leaving Home (School and Career) • Conclusion

  10. Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • Putting God First – Choose To Be aCommitted Christian • Wisdom begins with God: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

  11. Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • Application: How does wisdom begin with God? • Convert now to become a young, devoted Christian (Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7). • Continue in daily Bible study (Psalm 119:97-105). • Pray and meditate upon God’s Word (James 1:5-8; Matthew 26:41). • Consider relevant Bible examples (I Corinthians 10:6, 11-13; Romans 15:4; Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). • Eliminate anti-wisdom character flaws (Proverbs 14:16).

  12. Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • We must be decisive – Early! • Love God first (Matthew 6:33; I John 2:15-17). • Decide absolutely (James 1:5-8; 4:1-8). • Count the cost (Luke 9:57-62; 14:25-33). • Form specific plans (Daniel 1:8-13). • Avoid laying traps for yourself (Romans 13:14). • Jettison weights that hinder (Hebrews 12:1-2). • Safeguard your influence (before saint and sinner)(I Corinthians 8, 10;Romans 2:24; Titus 2:7-8).

  13. Self-Examination Checklist • Estimated possible sacrifices? • Made detailed plans? • Avoiding temptation? • Encouraging influences? • Diminish your influence? • Entangling yourself? Best use of time? • Honest with yourself? • List your priorities in order. • Praying, studying, and meditating? Seeking God’s wisdom? • Considered Bible examples? • Sought godly counselors? • God’s approval? Seeking to please God or men? • Resolved? Double-minded?

  14. Outline • Introduction: Choose Wisdom • Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • Godly Companions and Spouse • Leaving Home (School and Career) • Conclusion

  15. Choose Godly Companions • Checklist? Remember Joshua’s mistake with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:1-19). • Our friends have tremendous influence: • Evil companions will corrupt us (I Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 12:26).

  16. Choose Godly Companions Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (I Corinthians 15:33)The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 14:26) He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. (Proverbs 13:20)

  17. Choose Godly Companions • Checklist? Remember Joshua’s mistake with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:1-19). • Our friends have tremendous influence: • Evil companions will corrupt us (I Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 12:26). • Wise friends will strengthen us (Proverbs 13:20; Psalm 119:63). • We cannot isolate ourselves from the world (I Corinthians 5:9-13).

  18. Choose Godly Companions • Conclusion: • Frequent or intimate relationships must be godly for our sake (II Corinthians 6:14-18).

  19. Choose Godly Companions Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” (II Corinthians 6:14-18)

  20. Choose Godly Companions • Conclusion: • Frequent or intimate relationships must be godly for our sake (II Corinthians 6:14-18). • Occasional contact with others should be welcomed as opportunity to influence them. • Examples: Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, etc. • Application? Are your friends like these? • Virtual Friends? Videos, Internet, Chat, etc?

  21. Choose a True Leader or Helper • Who to marry? • 2ndmost important decision of your life • Why? • Irreversible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • Life-long Friend and Influence (II Corinthians 6:8-14; Amos 3:3) • Checklist? Remember…

  22. Who Do You Love? “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26) “Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God. Or else, if indeed you do go back, … and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, know for certain … they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes …” (Joshua 23:11-13) “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

  23. Recall Bible Examples But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17) “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, … and his wives turned away his heart. For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. …” (I Kings 11:1-8)

  24. Consider Roles, Children, more “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, … Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, …” (Ephesians 5:22-25) “… admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, …” (Titus 2:4-5)

  25. Compare to God’s Ideal • Fears God • Chaste • Honest • Integrity • Pure • Just • Generous • Not Greedy • Not Superstitious • Loves Enemies • Admits Error • Job 31:1-40 • Fears God • Trustworthy • Does good always • Hard working • Prepared • Strong • Generous • Honorable • Wise • Kind • Praiseworthy • Proverbs 31:10-31

  26. Choose a True Leader or Helper • Some issues are less critical than others, but are still important: • Modesty and other moral concerns (I Timothy 2:8-9; I Peter 3:3-4)? • Discipline for children (Proverbs 13:24)? • Do not marry a sluggard or a slob (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:26; 18:9; Titus 2:4-5). • Do not be desperate to marry (Proverbs 21:9; 10:26; I Corinthians 7:25-40).

  27. Choose a True Leader or Helper • Decide early on expressed affection. • “flee youthful lusts” – Don’t get as close as possible (II Timothy 2:22; Proverbs 6:23-28). • Some things are reserved for marriage: • Some expression is innocent and permissible before marriage (Song of Solomon 1:1-3) • Compare Solomon’s description of wife before and after marriage (Song of Solomon 3:4-11; 4:1-16; 5:10-16; 7:1-10) • Do not “awaken love” before its time (2:7; 3:5)

  28. Outline • Introduction: Choose Wisdom • Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • Godly Companions and Spouse • Leaving Home (School and Career) • Conclusion

  29. Choose a Pure Career & College • Checklist? What kind of city do you seek? • Abraham – seeking spiritual city? • Lot – seeking best carnal environment? • Is the environment “anti-Christian”? • Most schools and jobs are “amoral”. • Some attract more godly, or ungodly, people. • Some offer more encouragement, while others offer more temptation.

  30. Choose a Pure Career & College • Will the local congregation be helpful? Or discouraging? • Visited the local church? • Assessed the teaching they will offer you? • Checked for godly companions, who are true Christians – not just in name only? • Consulted others about this congregation? • Observed brotherly love toward you? • Envisioned opportunities for your growth?

  31. Choose a Pure Career & College “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:22-24)

  32. Choose a Pure Career & College • Zealous work ethic in this field? • Long Hours? Frequent Travel? (Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6-9) • Adequate Income (Ecclesiastes 7:12)? Balance with I Timothy 6:6-10; Luke 12:15. • Benefactor (Ephesians 4:28)? • You may have to move – again…

  33. Outline • Introduction: Choose Wisdom • Foundation: The Ultimate Decision • Godly Companions and Spouse • Leaving Home (School and Career) • Conclusion

  34. Conclusion • Are you seeking to make wise decisions? • Really? Prove it to yourself and God. Consider the checklist. • What is your reaction to this study? • Wise decisions are more difficult for the short term. • However, the wisdom of godly decisions “shines ever brighter unto that perfect day.”

  35. Conclusion • On many future days, still yet to come, you will thank the Lord for the wisdom He has made available to you, if you have chosen to follow God’s counsel. • “Get wisdom! Get understanding! …. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. … Keep her, for she is your life!”

  36. Conclusion • Seek God and His Wisdom First! • Choose a spouse and friends that will help you to heaven. • Find a job and career that will help you and your family grow in God.

  37. Today’s Decisions Affecting Tomorrow Questions? http://www.insearchoftruth.org http://www.wordsfitlyspoken.org

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