Your Next Decision, A Distraction or The Difference?
We achieve our goals by making a million little choices. Here are two questions that will help you make wise decisions.
- Is this going to become a distraction?
- Is this going to make a difference?
When Dominique Wilkins was done with basketball, so was I. I haven't watched 30 minutes of NBA basketball since the mid '90's, but I fondly remember the era of Bird, Magic, The Human Highlight Film, The Bad Boys, and Michael Jordan. So the release of the documentary The Last Dance caught my attention.
Michael Jordan was the kind of player that seemed to be able to score 50 anytime he wanted to. The problem was that the team with the NBA's best player couldn't win a championship. So Jordan was faced with a decision. Did he want to win scoring titles year after year or NBA championships? If he wanted to win championships, Jordan would have to welcome an offensive strategy that called for him to distribute the ball more rather than take all the shots.
Jordan was the NBA's best player, but if it was all about him, his talent was a distraction to the ultimate goal of winning championships. Jordan made a decision. Phil Jackson was promoted to Head Coach. The triangle offense was installed, and that made all the difference. The Bulls went on to win 6 NBA championships.
Wisdom is the ability to discern where a decision will lead. Proverbs 4 shares 3 keys to seeking the wisdom to know if something is going to be a distraction or if it will make a difference.
Seek Wise Counsel
My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Prov. 4:20-21
Wisdom is about listening and learning. The question of "are you listening?" can be answered immediately. The question of "are you learning?" is the one you will answer over and over again. Listening means it is getting in your brain. Learning means that you are taking it to heart.
Use Self-Control
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Prov. 4:23-24
You can't control what comes at you, but you can control what gets to you. Some things you need to reuse. Some things you need to refuse. Guard your heart. Be careful about what you let in there. If you want things to change. You change.
Focus on the Vision
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Prov 4:25-26
If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time. If wisdom is knowing where a decision will lead, vision is knowing where you need to go. Andy Stanley said, "Direction, not intention, determines destination."
Take a wise look at today's decisions. Will it lead to distraction or will it make a difference?
Bible Study and Challenge
Read Proverbs 4:20-26.
- What are the commands in the passage? Obey them.
- What are 3 things you need to pay attention to today based on this passage?
- How does this passage guide you in asking God for wisdom?
Evaluate a recent decision that became a distraction. Based on this passage what should you have done differently? Did you get wise counsel, use self-control, and focus on vision?
Evaluate a recent decision that made a difference. What was a part of the process that you will use again. Did you get wise counsel, use self-control, and focus on vision?
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