How Will My Decision Affect Others?

Romans 14:12-13 says, “Each of us will give an account of himself to God. So don’t criticize each other anymore. Try instead to live in such a way that you will never make your brother stumble by letting him see you doing something he thinks is wrong.” (TLB)

One of the biggest mistakes I can make is forgetting how much my actions influence those around me. Every day I’m tempted to make decisions that may seem best for me but could have a devastating effect on the people around me. To make wise decisions, I need to ask, “Will my choice harm others?”

This is the opposite of our culture. Our society teaches us to think only of ourselves. But God wants me to think about others, not just myself. In fact, the Bible says that one day I’m going to be judged by God on how my decisions affected others.

Romans 14:12-13 says, “Each of us will give an account of himself to God. So don’t criticize each other anymore. Try instead to live in such a way that you will never make your brother stumble by letting him see you doing something he thinks is wrong” (TLB).

I may not like hearing this, but I'm being watched—all the time. As a parent / grandparent, I should be especially aware that little eyes are always observing. I’ve got to be careful about what I say and do because I’m influencing not just my life but the next generation as well.

Show respect for those who serve and protect our community. If a police officer pulls you over for a ticket, even if you think they’re wrong, treat them with respect.

Don’t call in sick when you’re actually taking your family to the beach for the day.

Don’t bring supplies home that you stole from the office to use for personal benefit.

Don’t cheat on taxes—and then brag about it in front of your kids.

Don’t watch the awful stuff that’s on TV and in the movies with your kids. Think about whether I should be watching it at all.

Mature people limit their freedom for the benefit of others. Not because they’re afraid of what other people think, but because they’re motivated by love. In situations where there is no clear right or wrong, ask, “How will my decision affect others?”

So, I need to be cautious and not base my moral judgments on my opinion, personal dislikes, or cultural bias rather than on the Word of God. I can cause my brothers or sisters to stumble. Paul wants to remind me to be both strong in faith and sensitive to others' needs. I need to constantly monitor the effects of my behavior on others.  

I need to constantly monitor the effects of my behavior on others.  Everything I do influences someone else. 

How Integrity Blesses Me

In Proverbs 20:7 I read, “A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone.” (GW)

The Bible says that God blesses those who have integrity—those who have pure hearts. As Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8 NIV). 

So what blessings can I expect when I live my life with authenticity and a pure heart?

I’ll have the blessing of personal confidence. When I have integrity, I become the kind of person that other people like to be around because I know who I am and where I’m going. 

Proverbs 10:9 says, “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed” (NLT).

When I don’t have integrity, it’s like walking on an icy path after a snowstorm. I’m putting every bit of my energy into trying not to fall. But when I have integrity, I’ll be standing on solid ground.

I’ll have the blessing of a lasting legacy. My greatest legacy is my integrity because it will last from generation to generation. Everything else I do gets lost. When I’m gone, my money will be divided and spent among my family. My work will be given to somebody else. All the trophies I’ve earned will be thrown in the trash and taken to the dump.

But my character is going to influence the lives of the people around me and even the lives of the next generation. It is a lasting legacy.

The Bible says in Proverbs 20:7, “A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone” (GW). 

I’ll have the blessing of rewards in eternity. Matthew 25:21 says, “You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things” (NCV).

We tend to think that rewards come from the big moments of life, when everybody is watching. But it’s the small moments that reveal real integrity. Every small word of encouragement I give this week will be rewarded in eternity. Every small act of kindness will be rewarded in eternity. Every time I reject a temptation, I will be rewarded in eternity. 

Integrity is powerful. It makes a difference not just now but for eternity!

How my integrity makes a difference today and eternity is something I really need to keep in mind daily. Personally, I want my life to have purpose and to positively affect others, whether that’s through example, financial coaching or just friendships. 

When Making Decisions, Use the Influence Test

In review of Romans 14:12-13 this morning, I read “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” (NLT)

I need to be cautious and not base my moral judgments on my opinion, personal dislikes, or cultural bias rather than on the Word of God. I can cause my brothers or sisters to stumble. Paul wants to remind me to be both strong in faith and sensitive to others' needs. I need to constantly monitor the effects of my behavior on others.  

Everything I do influences someone else. Some decisions are good for me and also good for others. But sometimes it’s tempting to make a decision that might be fine for me but would harm the people around you.

There is an “Influence Test” I can use when I’m making decisions. I simply ask: Will this harm others?

The Influence Test is the opposite of what culture encourages. Culture teaches me to think of myself only: What do I need? What do I want?

But God expects me to think of those around me, too.

Romans 14:12-13 in the Living Bible translation says, “Each of us will give an account of himself to God . . . Try to live in such a way that you will never make your brother stumble by letting him see you doing something that he thinks is wrong” (TLB).

Whether I like it or not, I’m being watched by others. I’m in this boat with others called humanity. If I decide to drill a hole in the bottom of the boat, everyone else will be affected.

The Bible says that one day I’ll be judged on how my decisions have affected other people. God takes this seriously.

One vivid picture of this is with parents and others who have children in their lives. I’m directly influencing the next generation as my daughter and grandsons watch the decisions I make. They see whether I treat rude people with respect or return rudeness. They know if I lie to your boss about being sick just so I can get a day off. They’re learning what’s appropriate by what I watch on television and what I let them watch.

Consider: “Am I a good neighbor to the people who live closest to me?”

The random people I come in contact with every day are watching me, too, the new guy working the checkout at the retail store, or the restaurant server who’s having a hard day and takes it out on me.

As a Christian, I can’t just respond to these things however I want. If I do, the non-Christians around me may look and say, “If that’s what a Christian is, forget it!”

Romans 15:1-2 says, “Even if we believe that it makes no difference to the Lord whether we do these things, still we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves; for we must bear the ‘burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others” (TLB).

Mature people limit their freedom for the benefit of others. They consider how their decisions will affect people around them. They limit their own freedom out of love. They use the Influence Test and ask, “How will it affect others?”

In summary, each of us will give a personal account to God. Stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Be both strong in faith and sensitive to others' needs. Constantly monitor the effects of my behavior on others.  Everything I do influences someone else. There is an “Influence Test” I can use when I’m making decisions. I simply ask: Will this harm others? Culture teaches me to think of myself only. But God expects me to think of those around me, too. I’m being watched by others. One day I’ll be judged on how my decisions have affected other people. Mature people limit their freedom for the benefit of others. They consider how their decisions will affect people around them. They use the Influence Test and ask, “How will it affect others?”

Father, thank you for this reminder that what I do, affects others. I pray that through the Holy Spirit working in my life, that I consider my actions and remember the influence I can have on those around me. I ask you also for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my tasks, my leadership and my= interaction with others. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

To Be Like Jesus, I Need To Spend Time with Him

In review of the first part of Hebrews 12:2, I learn that to run the race with endurance, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (NLT).

To run with endurance the race God has set before me, I need to keep my eyes on Jesus, the one who initiates and perfects my faith. This means that I must strip off the excess weight that slows me down. Choose friends who are also committed to the race. Make wise choices about the activities I get involved with. Give up whatever endangers my relationship with Him. To live effectively, I must spend time with him. I'll stumble if I look away from him to stare or focus on myself or at the circumstances that are surrounding me. Keep my eyes on Christ, not myself.

You’ve likely heard this old cliché: “You can’t soar with the eagles if you’re running with the turkeys.” This has great ramifications for my spiritual life.

I should invest less time in certain relationships because they’ll only drag me down. If I hang out with people who have no ambition, I’ll have no ambition. If I hang out with critical people, I’ll become critical. The people I spend the most time around will influence what I’m like on a day-to-day basis.

HIs Word tells me this about our spiritual growth: “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a NLT).

This is why it’s so important for me to spend time with Jesus every day. My spiritual growth depends upon it. I become more like Jesus when I spend time with him.

Jesus made a habit of going to a place where he could talk with his heavenly Father. Luke 22:39 describes him going to the Mount of Olives to pray “as usual” (NIV). If Jesus made it a point to spend time with his Father, this same habit will benefit me as well. It’s the only way I can really start to become more like him. Therefore I should continue to have some daily time with Him to talk about what’s going on in my life. To read his Word, to study a devotional, and then to ask for guidance and wisdom for the day. 

In summary, to be like Jesus I need to keep my eyes on him. For He is the champion who initiates and perfects my faith. I need to strip off the things that slow me down, choose friends who are committed to the same race. Learn to make wise choices about the activities I get involved with. Give up what endangers my relationship with him. If I look away from him and just focus on myself and my circumstances, I stumble. The people I spend the most time with will influence what I'm like on a day-to-day basis. Therefore It's important for me to spend time with Jesus every day. I'll become more like him when I spend time with him. 

Father I thank you for your Word and how you speak to me through it and through application notes and devotions. In my work life, things are changing. One of the priorities of the organization is to “challenge the status quo.” We get stuck in doing things a certain way because that's the way we have always done it or it’s someone else's job or role to do. It appears that our role and organizational structure will change. As things change, there are decisions that have been made that I or we have no way to change. The only thing I/we can do is to champion leadership’s desires. I / We need to do the best job we can, with excellence to make things occur to accomplish the organization's mission. I need to keep away from those who may be a bit negative in approach about it. This will only drag me down. I need to put into action the processes, plans and procedures I know will bring success. I need to take the focus off myself and any pity party about what I see that I don't like or feel like I haven't been treated with consideration. I need to schedule a one-on-one’s with leadership to get their perspective and to help champion what they would like to see.

I pray this morning Father for the perspective you have brought me to become part of my actions moving forward. I ask for your assistance to do the right things, like Jesus would. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Learning How My Life Is Shaped By My Thoughts

In review of Romans 12:2 it says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Bottom Line:

Don’t look to the world for your value system. Rather let God and his Word transform you thinking.

What this means to me:

Since my life is shaped by my thoughts, I should never copy the behavior and customs of our culture. Rather I should let God transform and shape the way I think. If I do, then I will be able to to learn what God’s good, pleasing and perfect will is for me.

Today's passage comes from the first part of Romans chapter 12 in which Paul speaks to us about being a living sacrifice to God. Overall Paul explains that we should give our lives to God, because of all he has done for us. The giving of ourselves is truly the way to worship him. We start by not copying the behavior and customs of this world around us. Rather we let God transform us into new people. We are also reminded to not think more highly of ourselves than we should. We should use the gifts God gave us to serve those around us.

My life is shaped by my thoughts, therefore it's important that I not fill them with the things of this world. Rather I should be transformed into a new person by changing the way that I think. As I do this, I will learn to know more about what God's will is for me.

As I investigated the last few days, I cannot become all God created me to be until I understand the five factors that influence my identity. The first two were chemistry (how I was made) and connections (my relationships). I am a product of the way God created me and of the relationships in my life.

Today I explore how my identity is also influenced by my circumstances and my consciousness.

Circumstances are the things that happen to and around me; none of which I control. I am a product of the trauma, troubles, suffering, shame, shock, pressures, and pain that have shaped my life. Perhaps even a series of failures or a catastrophe, have left an indelible mark on who I am.

Consciousness is how I talk to myself (self talk.) This talk is not always so nice. For instance If I talked to my friends the way I talk to myself, I probably wouldn’t be friends anymore, because my thoughts are filled with the lies I’ve heard from other people that I’ve let simmer and fester. When I repeat other people’s thoughts in my head, they go deeper and deeper in my consciousness, and ultimately begin to shape my identity.

Proverbs 4:23 reminds me to, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life” (NCV). My thoughts don’t have to be true to hurt; I just have to believe them. If I tell myself my won’t last, then it won’t. If I’m afraid I can’t do something, then I won’t. My thoughts run my life!

While my circumstances may be out of my control, I need to remember that God is in control of everything. My thoughts shape who I am, but I can change the way I think. My circumstances and consciousness have shaped who I am up till now, but the way I respond to my circumstances and the thoughts I choose to believe will shape the rest of my life.

Over the past several years I see how my natural responses to difficult situations or circumstances has changed. I’m much more apt to face it with trust in God. This is likely from a conscious move on my part to seek God and his Word daily.

Learning to Take Off the Old and Put On the New

In review of Ephesians 4:22-24 it says, “22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Bottom Line:

Put off our old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desires. You heart and mind must be made new, created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in a life that is upright and holy.

What this means to me:

I need to let go of my old self, which was influenced by the world and its deceitful desires, and put on my new self with new thought processes like God that reveals itself in a lifestyle that is upright and holy.

Today's passage comes from the second half of Ephesians chapter 4 in which Paul is giving us what it looks like to live as children of light.

He first instructs us to no longer live as the Gentiles (our worldly culture) do, for they are hopelessly confused. They are full of darkness; far from God because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. The live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. [Seems not much changes, a lot of those around me are the same way.]

But this isn't what we've learned about that truth that comes from Christ. Paul therefore encourages us to "throw off our old sinful natures and former ways of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Rather we are to let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes. We are to put on our new natures, created to be like God; truly righteous and holy."

We are to tell the truth and stop telling lies to those around us, for we are all parts of the same body. Don't let anger control us, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Use our gifts and talents for good hard work, and give generously to others in need. Stay away from foul or abrasive language. Instead let everything we say be good and helpful, words that build up with encouragement.

He goes on to tell us not to bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way we live. He then explains that we are to get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, we are to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven us.

So, in order to have any kind of lasting change in my life, I need to start with my body, and that includes changing the way I think so that what I let into your mind and the things I think about honor God.

Ephesians 4:22b-24 says, “Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and ... put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (NIV).

There is a putting off, and a putting on. My health really comes down to stopping some stuff I need to stop doing and starting some stuff I need to start doing. Mainly to stop putting negative, hurtful things in my body, and start putting in things that edify.

Likewise I need to stop putting negative, hurtful things into my mind, and start watching and listening to things that edify and make me more like Christ. In the renewal of my mind, I’ve got to put off before I can put on.

In summary, I need to take off the old before I can put on the new. That’s true spiritually and emotionally and mentally.