Godly Decisions

If you’re a follower of the old “Andy Griffith Show” you’ll remember Otis, the town drunk, who periodically checks himself into jail to sleep off his inebriation. Otis is a lovable character, who would never hurt anybody else, although he doesn’t know how to handle the bottle. On one show Otis receives a letter from his brother stating he was coming to visit. Otis had foolishly told his brother he was a deputy sheriff and didn’t know what he was going to do. Andy, who always tried to accommodate anyone, offered to let Otis become a temporary deputy, only while his brother was in town. The catch was that Otis had to stay sober. Of course, his wife wouldn’t believe it was true until he destroyed his liquor at home. Everything went according to plan when his brother came. Otis was even strong enough to refuse to drink on duty when his brother invited him to go out for a drink. Otis wanted to make sure his brother knew he was a success, not the failure his brother expected him to be. But then something completely unexpected happened. Otis kept expecting to get caught in his masquerade, but then his brother did the unimaginable. As Otis looked on in surprise, his brother came into the jail drunk, and checked himself in just like Otis did every weekend. The brother was appropriately sorry as Otis lectured him on how he had let down the whole family by his actions. Andy’s lesson to Otis was that he shouldn’t have been so self-conscience about trying to impress others. But I believe there was a greater lesson. Otis had the chance to see himself as he really was. He had a chance to hear, “You are the man!” When King David stole Uriah’s wife, and then had him killed to cover up his sin (2 Samuel 11), he thought he had covered up everything. But then Nathan told him a story about a rich man who took a poor man’s one ewe lamb to feed a traveling visitor. David was incensed about this man’s wickedness and vowed a four-fold retribution, and the man should die! Nathan boldly concluded, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). To his credit, David responded in penitence, and accepted his punishment (2 Samuel 12:7-23). But Otis never changed. He never reformed. He could see how his brother embarrassed him, but he never saw himself


[Proverbs 14:12] “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” So many times in life we chose a way or path that isn’t God approved. We do this because it “seems” or “feels” right. This can be very damaging, spiritually speaking, to ourselves and others. How would any of us know what is right or wrong without consulting God and His Word first? Peter often went down a path of his own choosing, before coming to his senses. But, he made a very profound and wise statement when answering Jesus about leaving Him. (John 6:60-69) Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” We need to ask ourselves this when facing tough situations. Will we go with what is popular? Will we go with our “feelings”? We must turn to the Lord and His Word. Many decisions have consequences not only for us but for others around us. What would Jesus do? This is a valid question when we are in a decision making process. Let us always seek a way that is right, and not one that “seems” right. The footsteps of Jesus will never lead us astray. Look to the Master for what we should do and the correct attitude that we should possess. Our spiritual future, and possibly that of others, hangs in the balance. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Thank-You Lord!