Making Righteous Choices in 2023
There are a plethora of books, DVDs, and seminars available today with the ubiquitous belief that people can avoid bad choices and make righteous choices. Companies require their employees to attend seminars to teach them how to become people of integrity; singles attend seminars to teach them how to choose the right mates. There is a seminar or conference out there to teach you whatever you want to know! But are these choices always always righteous ones? Read on!
This assumes that people are good but need a bit of help to make good choices. When we look at scripture, it makes no such assumptions! God’s Word is much more objective and quite a bit less flattering to us. The truth of the matter is that most people make bad decisions because they reject true wisdom of righteous choices, which comes from God (Ps. 111:10; Eccl. 2:26; James. 1:5).
This problem, unfortunately, can plague believers and unbelievers alike. It certainly plagued Jehoshaphat, who was one of Judah’s godly kings. He ruled for 25 years, from 873 to 848 B.C. Though Jehoshaphat loved the Lord, he failed to lean on godly wisdom and consequently made some dreadful decisions that cost him and his kingdom much!
Is Zeal Enough?
Despite his zeal for the Lord and trying to get the people to worship Him as well, Jehoshaphat foolishly tried to travel two roads at the same time. He loved the Lord but on the other hand he formed a bond with ungodly Israel by forging a military alliance with Ahab, one of the northern kingdom’s most wicked kings. Jehoshaphat allowed his son, Jehoram, to marry Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah. This marriage was supposed to promote peace and cooperation between the northern and southern kingdoms, but it only resulted in degrading the southern kingdom of Judah.
It seems Jehoshaphat wanted a back-up plan in case the Lord failed him. Hmmm, sound familiar to any of you my dear readers? I’ve been there, done that and don’t want to do it again! It never works! Jehoshaphat should have known better than to partner with unbelievers! Many believers do the same thing. He also made the colossal mistake of relying on the world’s wisdom instead of the wisdom of God! Again, many believers make exactly the same mistake with disastrous consequences just as with Jehoshaphat!
God Sends a Prophet
God sent a prophet to Jehoshaphat to chastise him: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore, the wrath of the LORD is upon you”. (1 Kings 19:2) God will provide His wisdom when we ask for it (Jas. 1:5) but he will not force us to accept it!
Has He given you wisdom that you do not want to accept? What excuses have you given not to heed His wisdom for you? Perhaps you may want to reconsider and do things His Way! Think about it. Has your way been working? No? Then maybe, just maybe, His Way will! You have nothing to lose by doing it His way but everything to gain! After all Jehoshaphat’s problems were caused because of the ungodly alliances he made, but he still did not get it! (2 Chr. 20:37) My question to you is “Do you get it?”
When unbelievers refuse God’s wisdom, we justify it by saying since they don’t know the God, what can we expect? But when believers reject God’s wisdom they needlessly play the part of the fool and most often end up in horrible circumstances!
Results of Jehoshaphat’s Choices
Jehoshaphat’s ungodly choices brought great trouble to Judah. His son, King Jehoram, was an evil king who ruled like his father-in-law, Ahab. Why? Because he had Ahab’s daughter as a wife (2 Chr. 21:6) and she influenced him against God! As believers, we can see how important all of our choices are to our lives, our families and our success! Sin never exists in a vacuum. It affects all those around us…family, friends, co-workers and sometimes even those whom we don’t know.
True Wisdom for Righteous Choices is Only from God
Where does true wisdom come from? Only from God! Jehoshaphat’s life should be a warning to all who love God. Do what is right with a loyal heart, and always heed His Word “because the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Cor. 1:25). “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver” (Prov. 16:16). Unbelievers will not understand these statements because they do not know the God of all creation and His wisdom! But as believers we do know Him and should understand. If you are having trouble, then ask for and pursue understanding and He will surly give it to you! (James 1:5) “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 TLV)
In Conclusion
“Choose you this day whom will you serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
Verses to Meditate Upon
2 Chronicles 17-20 ~ chronicles Jehoshaphat’s reign and his decisions.
2 Chronicles 21~ chronicles Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram’s reign and painful end.
2 Corinthians 6:14 ~ Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Psalm 111:10 ~The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: his praise endureth for ever.
Ephesians 5:8 ~for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.
James 1:5 ~If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 ~ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;
A Word From His His Heart to Yours
(This is the message I received from Him after finishing this article. He often does this with me.)
My Precious Ones,
Take heed to My words. Look to Me for your wisdom, your righteous choices. The world has none. All you have to do is look at the mess it is in now. If your leaders would only ask of Me I would give them the wisdom they seek. It would be a true wisdom not a false one. Every time a decision is made that does not come from Me there are disastrous consequences to pay. Look around you for confirmation. Look in My Word for confirmation. Do not be blind and deaf to what is happening! Seek Me while I can still be found! For there will come a day that it will be too late. Don’t let that happen to you! Seek me now and My wisdom! Disassociate yourselves from close friendships with those who do not follow Me. They will lead you down the wrong path as Athaliah did Jehoram. Read My Word. It’s all there for all those who want to see. Seek first My kingdom and My righteousness and all things you need will be added to you.
Psalms 37:30; Proverbs 2:7; Proverbs 1:15; Proverbs 1:24-33; 1 Chronicles 3:19; Proverbs 1:10; Matthew 6:33
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