The Point of Choice

 

 The Point of Choice

1. We choose to be precept oriented or pleasure oriented. (Galatians 5:16-25, Romans 8:1-14)

(See Illustration of Point I)

1. When governed by God-centered precept-oriented motives we will choose to do things according to God’s standards instead of choosing to do things according to our self-centered pleasure-oriented motives. (Psalm 119:105)

 

1. When governed by self-centered pleasure-oriented motives we will choose to do things according to a self-serving agenda instead of choosing to do things according to God’s standards. (Galatians 6:7-8)

 

1. When we choose to live for ourselves instead of living for God we will become slaves of sin. (Proverbs 4:22).

 

1. When we choose to live for God instead of living for ourselves, we will become slaves of God (Romans 6:22).

 

The Point of Choice

1. Our choices are driven by our thoughts. (Proverbs 4:23)

 

(See illustration of Point II)

1. When seeking to live for self our thoughts are dominated by desires that are rooted in selfishness. (James 3:13-16)

 

1. When seeking to live for self our thoughts tend to be driven by what we have been denied, or what we believe we deserve. Even though we know what is right we tend to be preoccupied with what we treasure in our hearts above obedience to God when seeking to live for self. (James 4:1-3)

 

1. When seeking to live for God our thoughts are dominated by desires that are rooted in Godliness. (James 3:17-18)

 

1. When seeking to live for God our thoughts are driven by what is true. We value what God wants above what our flesh desires. We focus on loving God and loving others instead demanding what we want from God and demanding what we want from others. (James 3:17-18)

 

The Point of Choice

III. At the root of our thoughts is either the love of self and the love of pleasure or the love of God and the love of others. (2Timothy 3:1-9, 1John 2:3-11)

 

 (See illustration of Point III)

1. When the love of self and the love of pleasure are driving our thoughts, issues such as hedonism (preoccupation with whatever bring me pleasure apart from God), autonomy (not having to answer to any one) , materialism (preoccupation with material things), and entitlement (believing I deserve whatever I want or pursue) dominate our thinking. This leads to actions of anger, hatred, immorality, jealousy, abuse, cruelty, lying, selfish ambition, arrogance, rage, sarcasm and/or selfishness. (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

 

1. The love of pleasure and the love of self drive us to be pleasure oriented instead of precept oriented in the choices that we make. (Genesis 3:1-6)

 

1. When the love of God and the love of others are driving our thoughts, we tend to be preoccupied with a desire to please God, a desire to know God, a willingness to focus on God and a willingness to obey God. This results in humility, patience, peace, joy, self-sacrifice, kindness, goodness, mercy, love, faith, gentleness, self-control, wisdom and drawing near to God. (Galatians 5:22-25)

 

1. The love of God and the love of others will drive us to be precept oriented instead of pleasure oriented in the choices that we make. (1 John 2:3-11)

 

The Point of Choice

1. As we make choices according to the desires we have begun to worship we will find ourselves on a path of destruction (Proverbs 13:15)

 

 (See Illustration of Point IV and V)

 

1. We will become a slave to that which we pursue. (2Peter 2:18-19)

 

1. We will develop sinful habits that are hard to break. (Proverbs 5:21-22)

 

1. We will reap negative consequences of our sinful habits and idolatrous-lust pursuits. (Galatians 6:7-8)

 

 

1. We will have a negative affect on the lives of those around us (1Corinthians 5:1-6).

 

The Point of Choice

1. We must turn from a life of pleasing self and turn to a life of pleasing God (Romans 13:8-14)

 

 (See Illustration of Point VI)

1. We must identify desires or cravings that have preoccupied our

minds and confess and repent of them. (Proverbs 28:13-14)

 

1. We must replace these desires or cravings that have preoccupied our minds

with attitudes, words, actions, relationship patterns, and service that glorifies

God. (Ephesians 4:17-32, Colossians 3:1-25)

 

1. We must decide to make God a priority in all that we think, say and do.

(1Corinthians 10:31)

 

1. We must guard our hearts from desires we have begun to worship (1John 5:21).

(Concept adapted from a workshop presented by Mark Dutton)

Illustration for Point VI.

Walk in the Spirit Repent and Replace Recognize where your heart is self oriented. Repent of living to please self in that area of life. Replace self orientation with a God Orientation You must come to understand how your way of thinking determines your feelings, words and actions You must identify where your feelings, words, and actions are tied to an orientation towards self You must determine what you want that you are not getting and what you are getting that you do not want You must learn how your preoccupations with #4 drive you to focus on #6 You must evaluate the the negative fruit that has occurred You must accept the fact that God is looking at your heart and does not want you to be this way Recognize You must come to know who God is, how He operates and what He expects of you in order to focus on #11 l You must learn the will of God in all aspects of life particularly in the area where you are self oriented 1 You must come to see that a heart orientated towards God will result in being forgiven of sin, joy unspeakable, thankfulness, hope, confidence, tender affection, assurance, fruit of the Spirit and many other things You must move towards a heart orientated towards God To move from a self orientation to a God orientation you must analyze where you are self oriented You Must Lean to:

Adapted from curriculum presented in BC590s: Counseling Practicum, Dr. John Street professor, The Master’s College, Santa Clarita, CA July 2004.

Graphics by Cathy Poulos