The Will and the Want: What’s Between Me and My Best Choice?

March 10, 2008

By Jeff Tracy

The main obstacle in making good choices is our will and what we want; at least this is true for me.

I quote the passage of I Thessalonians 4:1-8 (NLT) to try to understand the general meaning of this scripture, (not to build a doctrine on it):

Live to Please God

1. Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.

2. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3. God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

4. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor

5. Not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.

6. Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.

7. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

8. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

What This Tells Me

First, this passage focuses on pleasing God; it should be the motive for everything we do, though it is vital to check our motives through prayer.

Second, it reinforces that it is “God's will . . . for us to be holy.” This is what guides us in our purpose and priorities. We obey what we already know to be true. No choice should be contrary to the revealed truth.

The remainder of the passage deals with specific issues that we must be watchful of: sexual sin, self control, lustful passion, and cheating or harming others.

Finally, Paul concludes by reinforcing that these are God's commands (in verses 2, 3, 7 and 8).

What’s In Your Heart?

This is a warning to be careful because our human hearts are deceitfully wicked and will try to avoid being 'crucified' and 'mortified'. We may try to claim that the teaching or doctrine of a church leader is of men and not of God.

The Apostle Paul made it clear that we need to be watchful that we don't excuse ourselves because “that's only what the pastor/teacher believes.” This was a problem in several of the Gentile churches (perhaps some thought, “that's just what Paul thinks; this is not what God desires”). This is a form of pride and self-justification and until it is dealt with it will influence our decision-making process.

Your decisions flow out of the purity of your heart. Without purity you cannot see God. When you see Him then you can see yourself more clearly. Seeing yourself more clearly is critical to making wise decisions and choices.

After all, the most powerful influence on your decision-making is you! The more like Christ you are, the more like Christ your choices will be.

ninetyandnine.com

© 2008, Jeff Tracy

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Jeff Tracy, residing in St. Louis, Missouri, is husband of one, father of two, servant of many and lover of One. His not-so-secret fatal weakness is a love of all things chocolate, especially the deep dark kind, which weight he daily chooses not to lay aside.