Considering…
Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24
“Consider,” according to dictionary.com means: to think carefully about, especially in order to make a decision; contemplate; reflect on.
It appears that many people don’t consider the consequences of their actions soon enough to avoid the consequences.
This may be small, like not considering how difficult the next day is going to be if we stay on the computer playing games all night. Other times we may buy something expensive, not considering how we will pay for it, the braces the kids need, or any unforeseen emergency expenditures. People have gotten into some great debt by failing to consider the future.
Then there are the even bigger decisions – we make a major move without thinking about the effect on others, we take a job not considering economic factors, or, rather than do the hard work to fix a marriage or another broken relationship, we decide to run, failing to consider that it might be harder than the work to fix it.
These failures to “consider” may even be fatal. Many sins are very tempting but very dangerous. Consider the consequences before falling into it.
We even do this as a nation. Christians sit quietly and have failed to consider the consequences of killing so many innocent children through abortion. We vote men into elected offices based on their appearances in public and not their hearts. We are silent about what public schools have decided to teach children that is anti-Christ. As a nation it seems that we fail to consider that God is still God of the universe and is not unaware of what we are allowing and how we are living.
We have failed to consider the consequences of taking God out of so much of our culture that He would have to remind us who He is.
As Isaiah was pronouncing woes on the wicked of Israel, he was facing similar problems in their culture as we are in ours. He said, “But they do not regard the work of the LORD, Nor consider the operation of His hands (Isaiah 5:12 NKJV).” These people had not considered that God would send them into exile for failing to consider what He had done for them in the past.
Proverbs 14:15 says, “The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.” This says to me that we need to consider the consequences of every decision we make. We also need to think about the consequences of believing what we hear – from school teachers, political leaders, our Pastors, University Professors, and even our own Christian friends and family.
Does what they say honor God and line up with His word? Do we know in our hearts that what they are saying will lead to destruction but we follow them anyway?
Are we more likely to consider what man thinks than we are to consider what God thinks?
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Wait upon the Lord! The challenge for me is knowing when I’ve waited and prayed and considered “enough.” At some point, in many situations, we do need to take action. You give us good questions to ask ourselves before we do. Thank you!
Jory, Thanks for the encouraging response. You are right – often waiting is considering and we have to be willing to step up and do something when God prompts us to move.
Beth
Wow. Powerful truth, Beth. Your passion for the truth of God’s Word rushes through like a mighty wind. I’m so grateful that there are a few people left who believe the Bible is true. It can sometimes feel very lonely, as many who once believed these truths, now follow cultural trends instead. Every word you wrote resonated with God’s power. These words: “We also need to think about the consequences of believing what we hear – from school teachers, political leaders, our Pastors, University Professors, and even our own Christian friends and family.
Does what they say honor God and line up with His word? Do we know in our hearts that what they are saying will lead to destruction but we follow them anyway?”
In the end, we absolutely must read the Bible for ourselves and follow God, no one else. Not even if they stand in the pulpit, for many who do, no longer preach from God’s eternal truth. May we pray ever more fervently for minds to see the truth and hearts to yield to it.
Thank you, Melissa. What encouraging words for me to read! I truly appreciate them!
Amen on the prayer – fervently for the opening of eyes and ears to see the whole Truth! Thanks again.
Sometimes, as I read the Old Testament stories of Israel falling away from God and falling into corrupt cultural ways, I think we’re returning to that kind of living. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, “there is nothing new under the sun.” We have new technologies and things, but as far as the human character is concerned, nope. It’s the same old sinful struggles. We haven’t changed much, and for those without Jesus, it’s even worse. So yeah…. we have to return to God, for sure!
Lisa, I think the same thing. We are the same grumblers and idolaters that Moses dealt with!
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Powerful message, Beth! Many warning cries throughout.
Dear Beth!
Thank you for sharing. This made me think of Stephen Covey and the circle of influence. I find it essential to try to change what’s within our influence.
One of the areas I love to see progress and more consideration is among many of my Christian brothers and sisters. I’m thinking of a particular group among these, and those are people who have difficulties seeing that us who live today, have never before seen possibilities to improve life for more people than any other generation before us.
My hope is that we realise this, and start to act accordingly 🙂
Sincerely,
Edna Davidsen
Yes, we often times act without stopping to think. As it pertains to the nation and political issues, I am often times disheartened because even well meaning Christians will quickly jump on the bandwagon of something without really thinking through it all–and reflecting whether our attitudes truly reflect Christ. I certainly have done that before but now as I sit and listen to both sides, reflect, consider, meditate, I have often found myself changing my mind — not on the morality of things, but as to how to approach it.
Excellent point, Luisa. So many of us make political decisions not considering God or His word, as if they don’t apply to politics. Thank you.
Edna, It is true that there is plenty to consider with regard to how we are now able to influence others! I pray we would consider the best for each one of us.
Thanks for seeing it from a different angle!
Beth
Thanks Jessica. May God be glorified in our responses!
I have been wrestling with not trusting God; need to consider what he has done for me and it’s continuing to do, despite my doubts. Excellent read.
Thanks Candice, I pray He reveals all that you need to see Him doing. Beth
Powerful and real – thank you for this, Beth. I agree especially with the line, “We have failed to consider the consequences of taking God out of so much of our culture that He would have to remind us who He is.”
Thanks Jessica. I fear for our nation because of how we have removed our great God from so much!