Making Good Choices - Ten WordsSample

Making the right choices – Ten Words

Word # 6 Life!  

“You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)

God values human life highly, and He wants us to value and choose life as well. God is the giver of life. He breathed into the first man the breath of life, (Genesis 2:7) and His plan is to give every human being a chance at real life—eternal life as His sons and daughters in His Kingdom. He tells us to choose life: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Because God is the God of life, and because we are His children and desire to walk in the same way in which He walks, (1 John 2:6) we want to work for the preservation, protection, and promotion of life. This command, then, is profoundly rooted in the nature of God as the God of love.

Preserving life means to make choices directed at building our physical capital. This is the time and energy we have available to invest in tasks, projects, and relationships. Jesus shows us how to do this when he teaches his disciples how to rest and abide so they can bear fruit. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Good health is something we take for granted—until we start to lose it. 

John wrote to his friend, (3 John 2) hinting that his dear friend was not well and that John was praying for restored health: “I want you to be as healthy in body as you are in soul!” The psalmist (25:21) says that living a life of integrity and righteousness will preserve my life.

Protecting life means to make choices which will provide for the family’s needs.

(1 Timothy 5:8) Building up a buffer for emergencies, and providing necessary insurances will protect the family in changing circumstances. 

We are also called to give generously to protect the lives of those who are vulnerable and defend the poor. "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open you hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land." (Deuteronomy 15:11)

Promoting life means to make choices which enables our fellow human beings to blossom, grow and be fruitful. Investing in people through education and training, offering opportunities to use their gifts and talents will help them to flourish as human beings.  

Making the right choices?

This Word #6 shows that we are to value human life in accordance to Gods valuation of life. Financial choices should preserve, protect and promote human flourishing and healthy relationships.