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Bad Choices

March 24th, 2009 by Jeremy Sprouse

Most of the bad choices in our lives involve an instant reward. Esau chose the instant gratification of a full stomach over the future reward of his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34). People choose the pleasures of smoking, alcohol, or the ease of fast food over a healthier and longer life. People choose to enjoy present purchases with a credit card over a more financially secure future. Besides all these, there are the bad choices we make spiritually: choosing to spend time in rest and relaxation instead of coming to church, choosing to watch TV over Bible study, or choosing to become absorbed in ourselves rather than spend time with our families. We often recognize these as bad choices, but we still have difficulty stopping. Instant gratification has a powerful hold on us—in fact, it is a primary factor in the development of addictions. We can stop making bad choices, however, by minimizing now and focusing on later.
We need to minimize the reward of instant gratification. We need to realize the pleasures of sin are passing (Hebrews 11:24-26). The pleasure and satisfaction lasts only for a moment. Then, to bring back that gratification we have to do it again and again and again. Often, we are left with regrets that last much longer than the gratification. We need to realize there is something better. There are better possessions than the ones we currently possess (Hebrews 10:34-35). There is a better country than the one in which we live (Hebrews 11:15-16). There is a better life to live. Jesus said in John 10:10 He didn’t come to steal or kill, but to give us an abundant life. The life Jesus instructs us to live will be more satisfying and gratifying than the passing pleasures of sin and earthly treasures.
We need to make our future reward feel more immediate and real. Realize our reward in heaven is reserved for us (1 Peter 1:4). Like a reservation at a gourmet restaurant, we can anticipate a good time. Even better, the price has already been paid. Heaven is something we can look forward to and anticipate. We can wonder about what it will be like and dream of the great rest awaiting us. In addition, part of heaven is here on earth. Jesus told Peter “there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30). Besides the reward of eternal life there is a reward here on earth—a great family that can replace any earthly family. Spending time with Christians is a way of enjoying a little bit of our reward now. The more immediate and real we feel our reward is, the more we will be able to avoid bad choices.
If we will realize the small value instant gratification has, and focus on our reward instead, we can make better choices in our Christian lives. If we will make the concept of heaven real in our minds and spend time with our heavenly family, the pleasures of this life will seem insignificant.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 at 9:01 pm and is filed under Bulletin Articles.

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