The importance of right choices

Steve Lyston, Contributor

WE ARE in an era where the choices we make are critical to our success in accomplishing our goals and objectives - individually and nationally. The survival of businesses and nations are directly connected to the choices made by all involved.

The word 'choice' simply means 'the opportunity, ability or power to choose between different things'. Choices do not affect only one person, they can affect an entire generation.

Everyone is given the free will to make choices. There is no such thing as 'no other choice' because as long as there is God, there is always a way. Choices must, therefore, be based on God's Word, his instructions and truth.

Choices can make or break you. There are many who made choices in their youth, but now regret making them and have to live with the consequences of their actions. Some persons chose the wrong spouse or business partner; others embarked on the wrong career path and made bad investments. Further to that, some followed the wrong leader or chose the wrong group to call friends and are living with the consequences.

Remember this: choices should never be made in haste. They must be made in prayer and fasting. Whatever choices we make in any area have consequences - both negative and positive. Most people don't like to wait or be patient, but waiting reveals the heart, strengthens and matures you, and increases your knowledge. Most importantly, it removes any potential danger. Most people want to be successful so quickly that they make choices which bring failure and pain. True success comes through hardship, suffering and patience.

Right and wrong choices

We must be careful about making choices through peer pressure. Choices must be made based on facts and faith. Right choices will separate you from wrong friends and associates. People make wrong choices because of fame and popularity - because they are making them by sight. Often, when persons are given the option of more than one job opportunities, they choose the job which offers a higher salary, only to find stress and failure along the way. They refuse the job which has a lower salary but better long-term benefits and, as a result, miss a greater opportunity for upward mobility.

This tells us, therefore, that our choices should not be made by focusing solely on how lucrative it is - how much money can be had; but, instead, by looking also at the intangible benefits.

I have seen women pray to marry a rich man, and when God sent a poor man who he would ultimately make a millionaire, they rejected him because he turned up poor. They made the choice of rejecting that person because they looked at his present circumstances and did not see his potential for greatness. Choices should not be made based on present circumstances.

Desperation should not be the basis for your decision making, because that can cost you dearly!

There is a great deal of suffering, wasting of precious resources and general failure with regard to political choices made worldwide. Some made choices based on age, gender, skin colour and oratorical abilities - the eloquence of a speaker. This should not be the basis for choosing a national leader. Such choices should be made on the basis of truth, integrity and willingness to be a servant-leader and obey the voice of God - someone who will champion the rights and needs of the poor. Family must be such a leader's number-one priority. Such a leader must be willing to embrace new ideas and new ways of thinking, and also be willing and ready to unite the people across political lines.

Remember that the choices you make can put you either five years ahead or five years behind.

Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.