There are many
times in life where we must make a decision between things. The choice can be
simple as in which candy should I eat or as difficult as which person should I
marry or which job offer should I take. If we are not happy with the choices given,
he or she may demand our right to choose. At other times people do not give us
an option to make a choice and we demand our right to choose for ourselves. We
do our best to make the right decision.
When we become
Christians, decision-making does not end. We are often given the choice between
things. Sometimes we think our right is to choose between the choices God has given us. From a historical
perspective, I see that sometimes this decision point is more than a chance to
choose what we want. It is the opportunity to choose between the good and the
best. Consider the story of Lot and Abraham in Genesis 13. The herdsmen of each of these men argued over their rights to particular
grounds upon which their cattle, sheep, and camels grazed. Abraham and Lot
conferred on this and God gave Abraham the wisdom to tell Lot they should
choose from the land God presented to them. Abraham offered Lot the opportunity
to choose which land he preferred. Lot looked at the land and chose the green,
fertile land on the Jordan River side of Bethel. This decision left Abraham
with green areas and dry regions. Abraham chose to give Lot first choice. How
did Lot choose? It appears he chose based on what he thought would make him
more prosperous, the greener territory. He gave the land that appeared less prosperous
to Abraham.
Abraham did to
Lot what God does to us; he gave Lot the choice between two good things. Lot
chose, though, what he, as a human, thought was best. In the end, the land Lot
chose was not the best land, only a good place. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah was
located in the region Lot chose and God eventually destroyed those two towns.
Abraham received what appeared to be a good parcel of land. Occurrences soon showed
him it was not just a good choice, but it was the best choice. God assured this
land, as far as Abraham could see, as the Promised Land for the family from the
line of Abraham (see Genesis 17). Lot had the preference of choosing and he chose instead of seeking God’s will to get the best. Abraham had the option
of choosing first, but gave the choice to Lot. Abraham chose the best, by
honoring his nephew with respect by allowing him to choose first. From
Abraham’s decision, the best decision, God provided the best land, the chosen
Promised Land for the Israelites.
With this said- how does this apply to us? God sometimes gives His children a
choice between options He approves. If we jump to make a choice based on our
rights, such as “I have a right to whatever I want because God has given me
these choices,” then we might not choose the best alternative. When God does
give us the choice between two things of which He approves, we must always seek
God’s will for us and choose what the “best” opportunity is. Remember, God
knows what will happen in our lives, so He knows what is best for us to help us
get to and get through future experiences. I know giving our choices to God is
not easy. As humans, we want our rights and if God gives us a choice, that
becomes our right. Consider it a further growing opportunity. We have the
opportunity to come before God again and trust in His wisdom so we can choose
what is best for our lives, not just what we want because we have a “right.” I
pray each of us will learn to do this, take the
options to God and let Him choose for us. This will give us the opportunity to
grow spiritually. We must continually walk with our eyes towards God.
