Forthright Magazine
   http://www.forthright.net
   Going straight to the Cross


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   Let's sing along now: "I can see clearly now, the
   rain is gone."
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   COLUMN: Hands-on Faith

   The Crisis of Decision
   by Barry Newton

   Can the clarity of resolve become foggy in the
   crisis of decision? Conflicts of interest and the
   clash of values have always muddied the eyes of
   those who would otherwise see clearly.

   We know this to be true. Those who accept a bribe
   will discover their heart twisted toward
   corruption. Ecclesiastes 7:7; Proverbs 17:23
   Similarly if the lure of wealth gains a foothold,
   it can derail faithfulness since it is not
   possible to serve two masters. 1 Timothy 6:10;
   Matthew 6:24

   When Abram told Sarai, "tell them you are my
   sister," at the crossroads he chose self-
   preservation. Genesis 12:11-13 The cost of that
   shrewdness involved the weight of sin.

   Ananias and Sapphira encountered an intersection
   when they sold some property. When they agreed to
   lie about the sale price of their property,
   presumably to gain favor and recognition as
   generous givers, they chose the wrong path. Acts
   5:1-9 The price they paid was their lives.

   King Jereboam’s decision inviting Israel to
   worship at Dan and Bethel involved him crumbling
   under the pressure to maintain his kingship by
   human means. 1 Kings 12:26-29 He could have chosen
   to trust in God and His promises. Instead his
   kingship sank into sinfulness.

   We need to be acutely aware of the values which
   can tug at our heart strings so that we will
   recognize the crisis of decision for what it is --
   a challenge to our ultimate allegiance. Questions
   can reveal the clash of competing allegiances.

   "Should I lie in order to avoid trouble?"

   "Should I hide what I know is true in order to get
   along?"

   "What should I do about the unethical practices I
   have discovered at work?"

   "Should we go to this sporting event instead of
   worship?"

   Such questions often boil down to trusting in God
   and doing what is right or capitulating to the
   pressure of pursuing self-advancement, acceptance
   by peers, greed, living for pleasure or some other
   value. If we are naively unaware of the crossroads
   of decision, we could wake up one day to "how did
   I get here?"

   The more goals we entertain, the greater are the
   possibilities that we will find our service to God
   encountering conflict. The more important other
   goals might be to us, the stronger will be the
   temptation to make poor decisions.

   Clarity of resolve involves starting with the
   conviction of who God is and His place in our
   lives. It is maintained by preventing the erection
   of competing allegiances in our hearts.

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