Wise Choices for a Better Tomorrow

Life is connected, that today shapes tomorrow, that one thing leads to another. So, here's a couple examples of what we're talking about. Here's some good advice. Okay, here's some good advice. Don't trade what you want most for what you want in the moment. That's good advice, right? [00:05:14]

Fear being wrong more than you fear admitting you're wrong. None of us like to admit we're wrong, especially when we're talking to our spouse, especially when we're talking to our kids, or if you're an adult and you're talking to even your parents or a friend or somebody at work, nobody likes to say, "Oh yeah, I was completely wrong about that." [00:06:33]

Wisdom serves as a guide. If you think about it, the decisions that you make in your life, your decisions are like the steering wheel of your life. If you look back and you think about how you got to where you are, you steered your way there for good or for bad, and you steered your way where you are for the most part. [00:08:39]

Greatest regrets are often preceded by a series of unwise decisions, not immoral, not unethical, not illegal. Your greatest regret, probably, greatest regrets are generally preceded by a series, not of illegal, immoral, but simply unwise decisions. So let me meddle for just a minute, and we'll get back to this sermon. [00:11:18]

Jesus connected his invitation to follow, and that's the invitation of Jesus if this is one of your first times watching, or one of your first times with us. That's the invitation of Jesus. He didn't start with believe. He started with follow. And Jesus' invitation to follow him leads us into a life or a lifestyle that's characterized by wisdom. [00:15:53]

The implication is this, that Jesus' instructions, the teaching of Jesus is for our benefit, not our detriment, that Jesus taught for our benefit, that Jesus taught for your benefit. He taught for your benefit, not your detriment. If your interaction with Christians has always been as if somebody was trying to take something from you, and they didn't seem as if they were actually for you, I don't know what was going on in that church, and you might have even experienced some of that in one of our churches, I hope not, but I just want you to know and hear from me, and, again, read through the gospels, when Jesus taught, he was inviting people into a better life. [00:23:07]

Wisdom is sowing now, so we can reap later. Wisdom is giving up now, so I can have later. Wisdom is doing the hard thing now, so life may not be so hard later. Wisdom is investing now, so there's something to show for it later, whether it's investing in my marriage, investing in my kids, or even investing financially. [00:24:22]

Knowing and doing are two completely different experiences with two completely different outcomes. And unfortunately, one is often used as an excuse to ignore the other. In other words, we are quick to defend our refusal to do, because we know. Let me illustrate that for you. If you got kids or if you've ever been a kid, either category, if you've got kids or you've ever been a kid, you had this experience and you've maybe been on both sides of this experience, you know, "Honey, dad just wants you..." "I know, I know, I know. "I don't need you to tell me. "I know, I know. "I don't need you to tell me." "I know, I know honey, honey, I've heard that. "I know, I know." [00:27:20]

His heart's desire is that we would do and not just hear, that we would act on and not just listen to, because knowing, but not doing has the same outcome as not knowing. Knowing without doing, knowing, but not doing, it's as if you might as well not even known. In fact, it's worse than that, to know and not to do. [00:30:16]

What do you know you need to do, but you just aren't doing it? What do you know you need to do, but you just aren't doing it? In fact, you're watching or you're sitting with someone and they are trying really, really hard not to do this, because you talked about it on the way today. You talked about it last night. You finally said to them, "Honey or sweetheart or buddy or roommates, I know, look, look, look, don't bring that up again, I know." [00:28:38]

Knowing without doing doesn't make any difference. It makes a fool out of you. And if you know what you need to do and you refuse to do it, these are Jesus' words, not mine, you're like a foolish man who built this house on the sand, knowing that down the road, this may be a disaster, regret. [00:29:55]

I will help you build a life that can endure. I will help you lay a foundation that can endure the difficulties of adulthood and the cultural norms and the cultural exceptions and the things that come your way you don't even know are coming. And if you'll follow me and if you'll apply what I teach you," he says, "I promise you, you will be glad you did, but maybe more important than that, the people that you care for most, they'll be glad you did as well." [00:32:47]