How do I know if I am making good or bad choices?

Genesis 13:10-13Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, . . . Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley. . . . and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the Lord.

Genesis 25:29-34So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

If your choices are being guided primarily by selfish ambition or a desire for physical fulfillment, it is very likely that you, like Lot and Esau, are making bad decisions.

1 Kings 12:6-8King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. . . . But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.

Proverbs 12:15Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

If you reject the advice of proven wise counselors, as Rehoboam did, you are probably making a foolish decision. But if you listen to advice and weigh it carefully, you are more likely to make good choices.

Proverbs 1:7Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If your decisions are being guided by reverence for God, then you are on the way to making good choices.

Matthew 16:26“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

If your choices are guided primarily by a desire to gain the world (in other words, if those choices are focused on what you can have in the here and now for your own pleasure), then you will not be able to truly choose Jesus, and as a result, you will miss out on eternal life and the riches of the world to come.

John 5:19So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing.”

If you, like Jesus, keep continually in mind what God would have you do, then you are more likely to make good choices that honor him.

Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Good choices are always in keeping with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, while bad choices often involve rejecting the Spirit’s influence.