But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness (1 Tim. 4:7)
The quality and content of a man’s life is the sum of the choices he/she makes. What makes one life different from another is inadvertently localized in the choices that summed up to the respectively lives. We need to gain good grasp of the choices we make: they shape or pattern our lives. The privilege or treat to make choices is the most impressive and remarkable resort everyman has. Freedom to choose the true freedom everyone has. We are free to choose the course and outcome of our lives.
God endowed Man the onus of Choice even in respect to life and death. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17 KJV) Notice, “the man may freely eat of every tree” and so becomes responsible for the outcome of that free-dom. Consequently, Man would never have died had he chosen to live forever. Man was responsible to choose if he lives or dies.
Choices define our preferences and highlight our bases; it is our “choices” that capsulate the content of our lives and dispenses its outcome. We need to give cautious attention to how and what we choose. Choice is composed of two primary elements; Accept (Consent) and Decline (Refuse).
These two elements are the bulwarks that barricade our life’s course; about which we must be trained, learned and erudite to organize and direct our interactions. We cannot afford to mistake Accept for Decline, exchange Decline for Accept or in error renege one for another. It’s abhorrent to lack the intelligence and acumen to manage one’s choices. Incredibly, we are left with no choice but to choose.
So it is arduous and necessary to learn how and what to choose. We must be savvy at choosing and refusing as it is conditionally appropriate. The Bible says of Immanuel, “Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.”(Isaiah 7:15). It is cogent therefore to admit and remit that “what informs one’s choices is how informed one is”. Good life is a product of intelligent extrapolation of information. Paul wrote to a godson Timothy on his fierce responsibility of managing his choices to elucidate his life and Ministry. As an aged/advanced leader and mentor, Paul having gained notice and value of right choices was upfront to warn Timothy to care and cater for his choices. “You’ve been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We’re banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers.” (1 Tim. 4:6-10 Msg)
We must put to heart the values and message of the faith by which we have been raised, follow the sound teaching, passing on this counsel to others…that we may be good stewards of the love of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus. Choose well and live