Make Life Less Hard - Question 4

I enjoy listening to a person’s story. Most of the time, you hear something you never would imagined just looking at the person. I am also of the opinion that you can learn from most anybody’s story. Sometimes you learn something worth repeating in your own life, and sometimes you learn something it would be good to AVOID. As an officer, you no doubt hear LOTS of stories of things that are best avoided in your own life, but have you ever paid attention to how the people telling these stories got themselves in their situation? THAT’S where you can learn from other’s mistakes.
  
You know what gateway drugs are. Have you learned to listen for people’s “gateway decisions” that got them into their situation? You may never do the thing for which a person gets arrested, but have you ever rationalized something because, “It’s not wrong. It’s not illegal. It’s not immoral. It’s not over the line.” Often times, these are the “gateway decisions” that lead us to negative consequences.
  
Because an option can be both not wrong and unwise at the same time, author Andy Stanley came up with what he termed “The Best Question Ever”. According to him, the best question anyone can ever ask when making a decision is, “What is the wise thing to do?” Not what is the right, smart, legal or even moral thing...what is the WISE thing? What a great question...but how can we know what is the wise thing to do? Andy suggests asking the question in three different ways: 1) In light of past experience, 2) In light of present circumstances, 3) In light of future hopes and dreams...what is the wise thing to do?
  
Whether I want to avoid making a dumb decision that will make my life harder, or if I want to help somebody else make a wise choice, what a great question! I am praying for YOU this week, both on the job and on your time off...be wise! In light of past experience, present circumstances, future hopes and dreams…what is the wise thing to do? 

Blessings,
Pastor Rob
 
Thoughts and examples taken from Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 
5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move by Andy Stanley 
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Make Life Less Hard Series
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Part 5