Every human being has the power of choice. We all get to influence the direction of our own lives.
My chocolate lab, Mocha, doesn’t have that same capacity to choose. Yes, she can decide when she wants to eat or sleep, but she will never carry the same level of responsibility we do. She just lies around all day, mostly on our couch. Once in a while, she’ll open an eye, eat some dog food or take a walk; but she mostly sleeps. There are moments when I think being Mocha would be great; but in the end, I think having the free will to make choices is one of the greatest gifts God gives us.
As you leave high school, the world is your oyster. This is such an exciting time for you! The options are endless. The will of God is laid out in front of you like a Sunday buffet ready to be devoured. So why is there so much stress?
The stress likely comes from a number of sources, but it mostly stems from the importance and sheer number of choices to be made.
With choices comes the “R” word. You know it. Go ahead and say it out loud. Responsibility. Some choices will happen quickly, some already have happened, and others won’t come until you get down the road a bit. The big choices you’re making and the responsibility that goes with them are multiplying.
Everything boils down to choices. Some people choose to smoke, drink, party, ski, chat online, snowboard, email, vacation, text their friends, do drugs and/or have sex now and think about the consequences later. These are all choices, some bigger than others. In the end, your life is the sum total of the choices you made.
God created you to live a full and healthy life. He wants to help you make wise choices. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (
Little Leads to Big
Wise little decisions lead to wise big decisions. Read that again. As you make the leap from high school to the life that awaits you after graduation, you’ll face all kinds of choices daily.
If you’re going to college, you’ll decide how your dorm room is arranged, how you schedule your days, when you study, when you sleep, what habits you’ll establish, with whom you go out on weekends, how often you call home, how many meals to eat a day, how often to do laundry…you get the point.
Some of these choices might not seem to be a big deal, but let’s think about laundry for a minute. If you decide to wait to do laundry until all your socks are stinky, you may be forced to wear flip-flops to class. You might think, What’s wrong with that? I love flip-flops!
Well, there’s nothing wrong with them as long as you’re not in the middle of a snowstorm. Unless you have fur on your toes, you’ll probably want socks when you’re walking in snow. I think you see where I’m going. If you make a dumb little decision such as waiting until the last possible second to do your laundry, you may pay later.
If you make wise decisions about the little things in your life, you’ll have a much easier time making the wise decisions when the big things come along. Laundry might be a small choice; but paying off your credit card every month, deciding to get married or buying a home or a car are bigger choices you’ll need to take responsibility for later. Develop the habit of being faithful in the little things. This will grow your wisdom for the bigger decisions later.
Making Smart Choices
As you grow in responsibility, here are some tips about making wise choices as you follow Jesus.
Remember God is the source of true wisdom, and the Bible is His big story—His grand narrative. Start reading the stories of Scripture, asking, “What does this teach me about God and His wisdom? How can I apply this wisdom to my everyday life?” The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom to help you make the right choices. Try reading a chapter a day for the next month—there are 31 chapters in all.
Before you make a big decision, seek the advice of a few Jesus-following adult friends or mentors. Be honest and open with them. Share your thoughts and feelings about the choice to be made. Allow them to pray with you and for you for a period of time before making the choice. Listen to their advice and take it to heart.
Take a look in the mirror. As you grow into a mature, Jesus-following adult, managing your time wisely and taking responsibility for your life, you’ll need to be honest with yourself. Growing in maturity entails taking a careful look at the real you and the choices you’re making. You might be able to trick yourself easier than you can trick others. Be authentic. Be real. As you consider any decision, honestly ask yourself: Will the choice I’m about to make help me love Jesus and love others better?
Take a look at God. We all need to pray about the choices we face. God knows you best and has your best interests in mind. He loves you, and you need to hide this deep in your identity. God is the King who has authority over your life, but He’s also the Dad who’s tender and compassionate toward His children. He’s the King Daddy. You may need to pray about some choices for a few days or weeks; some choices may require months or years of prayer. This might seem to take forever, but the older you get, the faster time flies.
Stay patient. Listen for God’s voice as you pray. Only a few people have heard God’s audible voice; you might hear His voice as a still, small impression of peace in your heart. Jesus says His sheep know His voice because they’ve spent time with the Good Shepherd (
The Ultimate Example of Responsibility
Jesus spent His time doing things that really mattered. He lived His life moment by moment as a model for us. Needless to say, Jesus was responsible and made wise decisions.
He touched people. He healed people. He talked to people others shunned. He laughed with outcasts. He cried with sinners. He made time for people. He loved to hang out with His friends and celebrate, too.
After long days with the crowds and His disciples, Jesus often would get up early the next morning to pray for the day ahead (
Do you remember the story of Mary and Martha? Jesus and the disciples came to the sisters’ home. Upon walking through the door, Jesus noticed Martha frantically running around from task to task like a chicken with its head cut off. Mary chose to spend her time at the feet of Jesus, listening to stories and fellowshipping with the disciples. When Martha started to complain that Mary wasn’t working, Jesus told her, “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (
According to Jesus, Mary got it right. Time is better spent with Jesus than focusing on temporal things. That’s not license for you to tell your friend, “No, I can’t help you clean the church because I’m reading my Bible”; but it does mean you need to take Jesus with you all day so you can live every moment for Him. Paul declared, “Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (
The Wisest Choice
Many people ask the wrong question when it comes to making the smart choices. They ask, “Is anything wrong with this choice?” The better question is, “Is this the wisest thing for me to do?”
If we want to be mature followers of Jesus, we need to take our focus off what’s wrong and put our focus on God. To consistently make wise choices, you’ll need to have a growing relationship with God.
The way to discern the wisest thing to do is to spend time with the wisest One. Make a commitment now to spend time with Him every day for the long haul.
I’ve heard it said the person who kills time injures eternity. In other words, time wasted with poor choices has a negative impact on God’s kingdom. As you grow into a spiritually mature adult, use your time wisely.
Take time to stop and think; it’s a source of power.
Take time to play; it’s the secret to staying young.
Take time to read the Word; it’s the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to pray; it has the potential to change your life with God.
Take time to love and be loved; it’s the way God designed you.
Take time to be friendly to everyone; it’s the road to happiness.
Take time to laugh out loud; it’s music to your soul.
Take time to give of yourself; life is too short to be selfish.
Take time to work hard; it’s your response to all God has given you.
Take time and responsibility seriously as you leave high school and begin following Jesus the rest of your life.
Jeff Baxter lives in Littleton, Colo., with his wife, Laurie, of 17 years and kids Lillian, Levi and Lara. Jeff has a doctorate in youth and family ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary and is the author of Together: Adults and Teenagers Transforming the Church (YS/Zondervan). He also speaks, consults with churches and blogs at SacredOutfitter.Blogspot.com. This article is adapted with permission from his latest book The Ultimate Guide to Being Christian in College (Zondervan 2012).
