Straight Thinking 012168 Decisions! Decisions!
Straight Thinking
012168
DECISIONS! DECISIONS!
Sunday. Life is a flood of decisions: to be or not to be, to do or not to do, to speak or be silent. Some decisions are more important than others; some are easier to make; some can be altered from time to time; others, once made, are final forever. Whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not, whether we’re ready or not, life goes on—a rushing torrent of decisions. (Read 1 Kings 3:5-9.)
Monday. Lazy people must be the world’s most miserable people—tired of sleeping and too lazy to get up. Their unhappy state does not even let them enjoy the only thing they do. Sleep is a nightmare for people that aren’t tired; their bed is a tossing, turning torment. Such is the punishment for “lazies,” whose biggest fault is closing their eyes to the decisions that life demands of them. (Read Proverbs 6:6-11.)
Tuesday. Success isn’t luck; it’s mostly a long, hard grind. The most successful way to fail is to choose the favors of chance or hesitate at the prospect of sweat, blood, and tears. Anything worth having is worth suffering for. Bare your back to the lash; strain every muscle to turn your millstone of fortune. (Read Proverbs 13:11.)
Wednesday. The teen years are decision years. Unfortunately, we must make many of life’s serious decisions when we are least qualified to make them. We can get some help by observing what has made other people succeed or fail. We can profit also from the advice of adults who know what young people are up against. (Read Proverbs 12:15.)
Thursday. What are you going to do when the storms of opposition drive you to and fro like a reed in the wind? How will you go about making up your mind? Will you take the easy way out or the right way? The only good way out is to do what’s good. Each time you bend you get weaker, but the longer you stand firm the stronger you grow. (Read James 1:12.)
Friday. Nobody likes middle-of-the-roaders, fence-straddlers, people that will go along with anything and want to please everybody. They’re no good as leaders; they can’t be trusted as followers. They aren’t accepted by either side because they want to be friends with both. Neither people nor God can use followers that won’t make up their minds. (Read Revelation 3:15-16.)
Saturday. Everyone must make decisions on top of decisions, but one choice we all must come to grips with now. What are we going to do with Jesus? We cannot avoid this issue by doing nothing, because doing nothing is doing something; it’s deciding against him. Whoever is not for him is against him. Decide. (Read Matthew 12:30.)
Virgil Warren, Straight, January 21, 1968, p13 cjhrist.org