131013 eng i wish i knew series (part 2 - how to make better decisions) by ps. timothy loh

Part 2: Decision Making

I wish I knewLiving a life without REGRETS,

living a life with PURPOSE

In this series, we advocate:• Beginning with the end in mind. Reverse

engineering.

In this series, we advocate:• Beginning with the end in mind. Reverse

engineering. • Painting a desired future and start

aligning our lives towards it now

In this series, we advocate:• Beginning with the end in mind. Reverse

engineering. • Painting a desired future and start

aligning our lives towards it now• Making better decisions NOW and having

fewer regrets LATER.

In this series, we advocate:• Enduring uncomfortable or even painful

changes NOW and enjoying the freedom and the reward LATER.

In this series, we advocate:• Enduring uncomfortable or even painful

changes NOW and enjoying the freedom and the reward LATER. • Living life with intentionality

In life, it’s not how we start but how we finish

Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV)“Write the vision, And make it plain on tablets, That he

may run who reads it.”

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to make better decisions

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to make better decisions • How to get out of debts – 19/20 Oct

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to make better decisions • How to get out of debts – 19/20 Oct • How to gain financial margin – 26/27 Oct

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to make better decisions • How to get out of debts – 19/20 Oct • How to gain financial margin – 26/27 Oct • How to have a strong marriage 9/10 Nov

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to make better decisions • How to get out of debts – 19/20 Oct • How to gain financial margin – 26/27 Oct • How to have a strong marriage 9/10 Nov• How to build a healthy dating life /

parenting life 16/17 Nov

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to keep anger at bay 23/24 Nov

“I Wish I Knew”:• How to keep anger at bay 23/24 Nov • How to not worry 30 Nov / 1 Dec

How to Make Better Decisions

Decisions, not Desires determine our

Destinations

How to Make Better Decisions

4 guiding rules of decision making:

How to Make Better Decisions

4 guiding rules of decision making:•Principles – what is the right thing to do?

How to Make Better Decisions

4 guiding rules of decision making:•Principles – what is the right thing to do? •Prayer – what is God saying in this?

How to Make Better Decisions

4 guiding rules of decision making:•Principles – what is the right thing to do? •Prayer – what is God saying in this? •Providence – is there a divine intervention / angle to this?

How to Make Better Decisions

4 guiding rules of decision making:•Principles – what is the right thing to do? •Prayer – what is God saying in this? •Providence – is there a divine intervention / angle to this? •People – who can I go for wise counsel?

How to Make Better DecisionsPeople – who can I go for wise counsel?•How many of you have made bad decisions because you listened to bad advice? - Ignorance

How to Make Better DecisionsPeople – who can I go for wise counsel?•How many of you have made bad decisions because you sought no advice? – Negligence

How to Make Better DecisionsPeople – who can I go for wise counsel?•How many of you have made bad decisions because you rejected good advice? – Arrogance and Rebellion

Prov 11:14

Where there is no counsel, the people fall;But in the multitude of counselors there is

safety.

Prov 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,But he who heeds counsel is wise.

1 Kings 121 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had

gone there to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he

had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt. 3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the

whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: 4 “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke

he put on us, and we will serve you.”

1 Kings 125 Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went

away.

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime.

“How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. 7 They replied, “If today you will

be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be

your servants.”

1 Kings 128 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders

gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He

asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the

yoke your father put on us’?”

1 Kings 1210 The young men who had grown up with him

replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy

yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with

scorpions.’”

1 Kings 1212 Three days later Jeroboam and all the people

returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, “Come back to me in three days.” 13 The king answered the

people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, 14 he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you

with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.”

1 Kings 1215 So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word

the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

1 Kings 1216 When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen

to them, they answered the king:

“What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your

own house, David!”

So the Israelites went home. 17 But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah,

Rehoboam still ruled over them.

1 Kings 1218 King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get

into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to

this day.

1 Kings 1220 When all the Israelites heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of

Judah remained loyal to the house of David.

Rehoboam•Rejected wise counsel – the elders who served his father

Rehoboam•Rejected wise counsel – the elders who served his father •Listened to wrong counsel – the peers who grew up with him (same mold).

Rehoboam•Rejected wise counsel – the elders who served his father •Listened to wrong counsel – the peers who grew up with him (same mold). •Ignore counsel / feedback – from his people.

Handles on Counsels:•What Counsel will do for you

Handles on Counsels:•What Counsel will do for you•What Counsel won’t do for you

Handles on Counsels:•What Counsel will do for you•What Counsel won’t do for you•Where do I get Counsel

What Counsel Will Do for you •Clarity

What Counsel Will Do for you •Clarity•Correction

What Counsel Will Do for you •Clarity•Correction

Proverbs 12:1 whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

What Counsel Will Do for you •Clarity•Correction

Proverbs 12:1 whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

•Confirmation

What Counsel Will Do for you •Clarity•Correction

Proverbs 12:1 whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.

•Confirmation•Conviction

What Counsel CANNOT Do for you 1.Replace your decision making

What Counsel CANNOT Do for you 1.Replace your decision making

2.Remove your responsibility and its outcome

What Counsel CANNOT Do for you 1.Replace your decision making

2.Remove your responsibility and its outcome

3.Recreate new standards above the Bible

Who should you go to? •People who knows and loves us – Friends, Parents, Spouse

Who should you go to? •People who knows and loves us – Friends, Parents, Spouse

•People who knows better / more experience / experts

Who should you go to? •People who knows and loves us – Friends, Parents, Spouse

•People who knows better / more experience / experts•People who know and loves God – Pastors

Who should you go to? •People who knows and loves us – Friends, Parents, Spouse

•People who knows better / more experience / experts•People who know and loves God – Pastors – Leaders

Ps 1

Blessed is the manWho walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;And whatever he does shall prosper.

Practical: 1.Do you desire WISE COUNSEL in your life? Why not?

2.Who can you go for wise counsel?

Part 2: Decision Making