The Powerful Effects of Decisions!
A commentary by Robin Webber
United Church of God pastor, Redlands and San Diego, California
The end result of people's
choices is often the stuff that makes headlines—some good, some
bad, some horrific. But many decisions greatly affect lives beyond those
featured in the big type.
These past few weeks we seemingly have had more than a normal load
of decision-related headlines. Someone decided to share a CIA
agent's name. A jury now will decide the intent of that
disclosure.
President Bush decided to nominate Harriett Meirs to the Supreme
Court. Meirs decided to withdraw from that nomination. Then
the President decided to replace her with Samuel Alito as the
new nominee. Now senators must decide whether to vote for or
against him. Some have seemingly already decided.
Someone decided to place bombs in public places in Iraq and
India, killing innocents. Also, because they voluntarily decided to
join the Armed Forces, young men and women are daily in harm's
way in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Such decisions are the cutting edge of life. Everyday people
have to make decisions in the 'battlegrounds of their own backyard.' Yet
some—maybe some of you reading this commentary—have a habit
of putting off or dodging serious decisions. It's as if they, or
we, choose to put life permanently on neutral. But choosing to avoid
a decision is itself a decision.
Oh, those decisions we make that negatively affect others besides ourselves!
It is not just people of notoriety whose decisions may have
negative or harmful consequences.
Even people who sincerely desire to serve God have been known to make
decisions that 'backfired'—some 'big-time.' Their
intentions may have been commendable, but their methodology was faulty,
riddled with error. The results were costly not only to them but also
to others around them.
A prime example from the Scriptures is a story about King David (1
Chronicles 13 and 15; 2 Samuel 6). He decided to return the
Ark of the Covenant (the encasement for the 10 Commandments) to Jerusalem
to unify the people and strengthen the city as the spiritual center of
worship for all of Israel.
It was a great idea, a good decision. But he decided to go
about it the wrong way! God had already taken all guesswork and decision
making out of the way concerning how to get the Ark from point A to point
B.
This box-like enclosure was to be carried by means of poles on the
shoulders of the men of Levi who were trained and dedicated to God's
service. No one was to touch the Ark of the Covenant on pain of death.
God knew that transporting this holy relic could not be entrusted to
uncertain movements of beast of burden or to an untrained staff, lest
it fall. But David, in his haste, consulted everyone but God and the
plain words of the operation manual that God had given him—the
Holy Scriptures.
To make a long story short, the Ark of the Covenant was placed on an
ox-drawn cart and almost took a bumpy spill. A man named Uzzah, one well-intentioned
but inadequately instructed driver, reached out in the suddenness of
the moment and touched it. Apparently he was not a Levite, nor was the
precious cargo being carried by poles as the Scriptures instructed. Uzzah's decision 'in
suddenness of the moment' was to steady the Ark with his hand.
He was struck dead on the spot.
Afterward, King David was given another chance to get it right. And
he did—because this time he went by the manual, the Bible.
Like David, President Bush had another chance to make a Supreme Court
nomination. But as with Uzzah, you and I may not always be given that
second chance on important decisions we make.
So how are we doing with our big decisions in life, and our follow-up
choices along the way? We may not be responsible for a Supreme Court
nomination or sending people into war or transporting the Ark of the
Covenant, but we are responsible for many important decisions.
Yes, we constantly face life-molding choices in being a good mate,
a good parent, a good child, a good student, a good employee, and a good
neighbor. But good intentions just aren't good enough in making
good decisions. Ask David! Most of us decide to take too many short-cuts that
wind up as dead-ends along the way.
 The
United Church of God offers you, free of any charge or obligation, a special
booklet that addresses the big decisions you
must face in confronting those 'battlegrounds in your own back yard.' The
most helpful decision you can make right now is to download or
request a printed copy of this helpful booklet: "Making
Life Work."
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