What Motivates Your Decisions

Introduction

Good morning. Well, I’d like to welcome you all to our services. I hope the things that I have to say this morning will be of value to you. A man worked for a boss that he described as a wise, friendly old man. And one day he walked into his office and he said, Sir, what is the key to your success? And his boss replied, two words. And he said, Sir, what are those two words? And he said, good decisions. And he said, So, sir, how do you make good decisions? And his boss replied, one word. And he said, Sir, what is that one word? And he said, experience. And he said, sir, how do you get experience? And his boss answered, two words. Bad decisions. We had a class this last summer on twelve major decisions that every Christian is faced with.

Major decisions, life-changing decisions. You know, every day we all make many decisions. Most of them are minor and have little impact in the moment, but occasionally we’re faced with bigger decisions, more major decisions that take a little bit more thought and action. And there’s a difference between how we make major and minor decisions. In fact, I met a man recently who told me about how to make how to differentiate between how to make a major and minor decision. He told me he’d been married for 66 years, and I said, Wow. 66 years, that is amazing. What do you think is the key to the longevity of your marriage? And he said, Well, it’s really quite easy. The man makes all the big decisions and the woman makes all the little decisions.

And I said, Seriously? Does that really work? And he goes, Yeah, 66 years, not one big decision. Matthew 15, 18 says, the things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and defile a man. Big or small, the decisions we made are first nurtured in our heart. And our choices simply reveal our inner character and make known our hidden desires. Each choice opens a window into our heart about what we love and where our priorities are. Therefore, the best decisions are made when we carefully examine our motivation behind those decisions. Asking ourselves why is an essential part of making decisions. Why should we do this? Why should we want that? Now that won’t apply to every decision.

But when you’re making major decisions, that’s a asking yourself why is a good way to determine what is the motivation for your decision and help us make a better decision. So we’re going to look today at what should be three motivations behind our decisions, and then three case studies, if you want to call them that, three examples of real people with real decisions, some of them here at Decker Prairie, I won’t name names. But yeah, so we can see how we apply these, what should be our motivation. So one word of warning if you’re going to use this practice of asking yourselves why, sometimes you need to be skeptical about your first answer. Because we as Americans are adept at self-deception. And so sometimes the answer, first answer, when you ask yourself why can be very self-serving.

And we’ll talk about that as we go through this. But there’s a concept called the irreducible why, and which is designed to provide a better way of revealing motives. The idea is to keep asking yourself why until you drill down to the real reason behind the decision. You have to be careful because sometimes this can be painful. But haven’t children done mastered this? You know, don’t you just love it when they get not for the same reasons we’re talking about, but don’t you just love it when they reach the age where they ask, why, mommy, why all day long? Mommy, why does daddy go to work? Because he has to support our family. Well, why does he need to support our family? Well, because God gave him that responsibility.

1. Will My Decision Glorify God?

Well, why did God give them that responsibility, right? On and on it goes. So if you find yourself in a situation where you need to make an important decision, consider asking yourself, why am I doing this? And realize, again, the first answer might be very self-serving. But with each persistent why, you will dig under the surface to what is at the root of the decision. So before you make a decision of any consequence, consider your asking yourself that question. Consider asking yourself, why am I doing this? That simple question will help you locate the real motivation behind the decision. So we’re going to look at three motivations this morning. The first one, will my decision glorify God? We’re going to look at a number of passages.

These are some of them we’re going to look at. 1 Corinthians 10, 31, says, do all to the glory of God. So good decisions begin with a desire to magnify God in our lives. And we do that by following God’s word. We all we all know that. But God’s word does more than regulate our actions and also confronts our motives. So something may be biblically right to do, but still be a bad decision based upon our motive. And Jesus talked about this in Matthew the sixth chapter. He spoke of those who worship God in all the right ways, but for the wrong reasons. So I’m gonna read Matthew 6, 1 through 6. Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men to be seen by them.

Otherwise you have no reward with your father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you go as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. I assuredly I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be done in secret, and your father who sees in secret will himself reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly I say to you that they have their reward.

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in the secret place, and your father who sees in secret will reward you openly. So Jesus was addressing the decision to do a charitable deed, good decision, but he was questioning the motives behind it. Why are you doing this? Are you doing it to bring glory to God or are you doing it to bring glory to yourself and elevate yourself? Same thing with praying. He’s addressing why were they praying openly in the street corners? Was it to truly glorify God, or was it just to show people how pious they were? You know, a lot of us say prayers in restaurants before we eat.

So why do we do that? I think that’s a good decision. maybe we’re doing it because we pray before every meal, no matter where we are, and we give thank thanks to God for the food we have. Maybe we’re doing it to be an example to other people around us, which could be a good decision based upon our motives. Are we really trying to be an example or are we trying to show people how pious we are? So it’s all behind what is our motive and why are we doing this? In Acts the fifth chapter, we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Most of us know that story pretty well. Tony just preached on it a few weeks ago. but this is a case of motivation behind a decision and one that is rooted in insincerity and hypocrisy, and on the just judgment of God of those who were guilty of it.

So, what if they had asked themselves, what if Ananias had asked himself, why am I doing this? Why am I making this decision? Would that have would things have turned out any differently? Of course, we’ll never know, but it’s a again a story about the nature of hypocrisy and illustrates the cunningness of the enemy of our soul in attempting to corrupt the church and pervert the religion of the gospel. So hypocrisy is an attempt to imitate the people of God or to assume the appearance of religion in whatever form it may be manifested. In this case, it was manifested in self denial and benevolence. The hypocrisy of Ananias consisted in attempting to imitate this appearance. So it’s it’s clear from the story that they he was under no obligation to sell their property.

But having sold it for the per purposes of religion, it became their duty if they professed to be devoted to God and to do it entirely and without any reservation. Consider 1 Corinthians 13, verses 1 through 3. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could move remove mountains but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and but not have love, it profits me nothing. So we can do all those remarkable things, unselfish things, but if they aren’t done out of love, they’re done for the wrong reasons.

That you may spend it on your pleasures. So we when we ask God for something, why are we asking? Is it for our own selfish reasons? When we pray to God, are we praying mainly about that things may go well in our own lives, or are we praying mainly about other people and how their lives are and how things may go for them? What is our motive when we pray? And a good decision reflects the fact that God deserves our first and our finest. And that’s talked about in two in the next two verses, Matthew 33, which aren’t up there. Matthew 33, which says, But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. And Romans 12, 1 and 2.

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God. So those two verses speak about our priorities. Where are they? And again, we have to realize that if we’re following what Jesus taught us, sometimes our decisions might be personally demanding and exhausting. Because priority is often expressed through sacrifice. Jesus said this in Luke 9 23. Then he said to them all, If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

2. Will My Decision Deepen the Spiritual Commitment of Others?

Priority is most often expressed through sacrifice. Denying ourselves, being less selfish, may cause more hardship on us, but that’s what Jesus is teaching us to do. Paul wrote, Jesus died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him. So the finest decisions we can make are those that submit our will to God’s glory. Secondly, the second motivation, will my decision deepen the spiritual commitment of others.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks, or to the church of God. Just as I also please all men and all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved. We do not live in a bubble. We must consider how our decisions affect the spiritual welfare of others. And every important decision that you make affects more than just you. People’s spiritual needs must come before our personal rights. Jesus talked about this and was an example of this in Mark the sixth chapter. He and his apostles were exhausted and they needed some rest. So they got in a boat, they headed to a distant shore in hopes of finding some rest.

When they arrived at that shore, it was covered with people. Now surely they saw from out in the water that it was covered with people, and they could have gone a different direction, so they could have gotten the rest they needed, but that’s not what happened. And it says that it says that Jesus had compassion for them and taught them many things. He clearly placed the spiritual needs of others before his own physical comfort. He made it harder on himself in order to help others.

Can each one of us say the things that Paul says about this? Three different passages. I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Second Timothy 2, verse 10. Also, he says, I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith. I am glad. Philippians 2 17. Or, I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls. 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 15. Is that our heart? Is that can we say those things? The early believers were willing to give up food that they had every right to eat for the spiritual well-being of others. That’s part of the discussion in 1 Corinthians chapters 8 through 10.

And chapter 8, chapter 8, verse 8, he says, But food does not commend us to God, for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest someone, lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak. Excuse me. Romans 14, a chapter that we often cite as regarding things to which God is indifferent, that are neither wrong or right in and of themselves. In verse 7 of Romans 14, the Bible says, For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. We have to be aware of how our decisions affect the spiritual welfare of others.

3. Display the Priority Jesus Has in My Life

The best decisions in life are made are those that are made for the spiritual well being of others. And thirdly, will my decision display the priority Jesus has in my life? In Luke 10, verse 42, it says, Mary has chosen the good part, which will be not be taken away from her. It was okay for Mary to cook Jesus a meal. She probably had done that many times. But on this one occasion, she chose not to. She chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from him. And Jesus commended her for making the right choice, the best choice, the one that she could receive the most benefit from. Mary chose to do the thing that would help her grow spiritually. When we live for God’s glory and the salvation of others, our spiritual growth is certain.

We must constantly choose to see our circumstances as opportunities for growth and our responsibilities as opportunities for service.

This is what’s talked about in the following two verses. James 1, verse 2. My brethren countered all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Are you undergoing trials at this point? Many people in here are. We have to choose to see those circumstances as opportunities for growth. That’s what James is talking about. Colossians 3 23, whatever you do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men. Whatever we do, we need to see that as an opportunity for service. So making good decisions is more than just asking ourselves, do I have the right to do this? It’s asking ourselves, Am I doing the right thing for the right reasons?

And when we evaluate that question, we need to keep Galatians 6, verse 8 in mind. He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. We need to root out every fleshly motive because ultimately it will corrupt an otherwise good decision. We have to die to self more and more as we mature as Christians. Back to James again, chapter 3 and verse 14 through 16. If you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. We will either long to please God or we will demand to please ourselves.

There’s no in between. It’s one or the other. So what motivation is in our hearts? And if we choose to make ourselves our primary concern, the farther down that road we travel, the more that choice will bind us and enslave us. It’s ironic, but we are never less free than when we declare our independence from God. James tells us in those verses that this self-seeking is a hellish thing. He says it brings about strife, and that wisdom is not from above. It’s demonic, it’s earthly, it’s sensual. Satan’s lie has always been that we can do whatever we want, regardless of what God says about it, and don’t and we won’t suffer any consequences.

But even while our enemy, the enemy of our souls, is urging us in this direction, he’s preparing the change that will bind us. Once we’ve disregarded the will of God, we begin almost immediately to realize how little freedom there is in that path, in that course of action. The farther we go without turning back, the more our choices begin to feel like compulsions, and the less hope we have of ever knowing freedom again. If we want to maintain any honesty about ourselves at all, the time will come when we understand the desperate cry of Paul, oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?

4. Real People With Real Decisions

So the desire to be free from our self-will should be one of the most powerful motivations. We sing a song occasionally, less of self and more of thee. If we hope to be free, we have to be honest about where we are. If we aren’t seeking, if we even if we’re seeking God right now, we are seeking maybe more about what we want than about what he wants. So three motivations we should consider when making decisions. Will my decision glorify God? How will it affect the spiritual condition of others? And will it reflect the priority Jesus has in my life? So, how do we apply how do we apply these standards to making decisions? Well, I’m going to talk about three examples of families who have faced big decisions, major decisions, and how they made them.

First one, you have an offer to advance your career by moving to another part of the country. There are no churches there. Your kids would have to leave their school, their friends, they would have to leave the church that they’ve come to love. How do you make this decision? It’s not an easy decision because sometimes your career advancement is based upon you accepting those relocation opportunities. And if you turn them down, your career is sacrificed. So you have to ask yourself why. Going back to the original point I made, be careful about the first answer because it could be very self serving. Why am I making this decision to move to another part of the country? Well, it’s my career. I mean, I’ve got a career to consider, and I’ve got to support my family.

Now, does that consider any of the three motives that we just talked about? I would say it doesn’t. And if it’s based solely on your career, even if it means that you don’t continue to move up the ladder, corporate ladder, is that the best decision to make? If your f family’s spiritual situation takes a nosedive, is it worth it for the sake of your career? Sometimes we realize a mistake we’ve made after we’ve made the decision. And there’s a family I know of that made this decision. They moved to another part of the country, got there, realized what a mistake it was, and he quit his job and he moved back for the spiritual well-being of his family. And was lucky enough to find another job.

Sometimes that’s hard to do. But he made the right decision for the right motives. once he realized that he was had his decision had bankrupted his family spiritually. Another family made the same decision for the same reasons, did not think they had made it for the wrong reasons, and stayed where they where they were and ended up financially and spiritually ruined. They’re no longer faithful. So, what is the motivation behind our decision? Number two. Your child is offered a full scholarship to a prestigious university. There’s a church nearby, but it’s not scripturally sound. So, what do you what do you decide to do? The other alternative is you have to finance the education yourself. You have to find another school that’s located close to a strong, faithful congregation that your child can go to.

Not an easy decision with the cost of college what it is today. If you decide to take the scholarship, you have to ask yourself why. And again, the answer may be very self-serving. You may say to yourself, Well, we can’t afford not to. We can’t afford to send our child to college. So we have to do, we have to make this decision. So does that again, does that consider any of the motives we talked about this morning? Maybe your child has to work for a year before they go to school. Maybe you have to go to a community college. Maybe they have to take out student loans, but their soul is worth it.

One family here decided to forgo that scholarship for the sake of the soul of their child. Number three. Another family came to the realization that they had bought into the American dream hook, line, and sinker. Their house payments and car payments were so high that they could not afford to help others. They could not afford to give anything to the church. So they decided to downsize. They sold their house, they bought a much smaller house, and that enabled them to free themselves up financially and be able to help others and help contribute to the work of the church.

Conclusion

Just because you can afford a larger house or a nicer car doesn’t mean you should. So, real people with real decisions to make, important decisions, big decisions. Will you be prepared when the time comes to consider why you are making these type of decisions? And remember the three motivations we talked about this morning. Will my decision bring glory to God? How will it affect the spiritual welfare of others? And will it display the priority of Jesus in my life?

The very best decision you can make is to follow Jesus. Submit to him or become his disciple, and you can do that this morning. Why should you? What should your motivation be? Well, without doing so, you’ll be lost. You will miss heaven and your life will be meaningless. So make that decision. Come forward and help us and let us help you as we stand and sing.