KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 14:7 (KJV). Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.”

(Please read Mathew 14:3-9)

Wrong decision is a choice of action that opposes God’s will and leads an individual out of the will of God. Wrong decisions would always bring some negative or destructive effects, now or in the future. In our passage Herodias daughter danced at king Herod’s birthday party. She pleased Herod so much that he gave an impulsive promise to her. He promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. The girl went to her mother to show her what to ask. She asked for the head of John the Baptist. The Bible said Herod felt sorry but because of the people present and the oath he had made, he had to allow John to be killed. This was definitely a poor decision.

What made his decision a poor one?

1.His decision was very impulsive. He spoke out of his feeling.

Lesson. Never take a decision out of a feeling, whether it is good feeling or bad feeling. Decisions must be taken by considering and analyzing   the issues at stake. Marriages have been destroyed because at the moment of intense anger one party decided not to stay in the marriage. After so many years, he or she realizes how foolish she was or he has been. When you are in deep anger do not take any decision. Sadly, many people cannot resist the urge to take a very important decision in a moment of intense anger. Prov 25:28

2. It is wrong to promise any man you would give him or her whatever they ask. Only God can say such a thing. Anyone who says such a thing is a liar.

3. No one has the right to take another human life, and so King Herod should have said that he could not kill John for her. Exodus 20:13

4. Decisions are wrong when they give no reference to the will of God as revealed in His word. Every good decision must be done in the light of the revealed will of God. Prov 24:27

5.He decided to save his image before his audience. As children of God, we only project the will and glory of God.

It is always foolish to act because of the praise of men. Certain youth joined friends to vandalize school properties because of peer pressure. There are some men who started taking alcohol because their friends were drinking and so could not displease them. They had to drink o please their friends. Some have become complete drunkards because of this first error. There are even some married men who started cheating on their wives because they were with friends who were doing so.

It is very sad people are not able to resist peer pressure. Remember, pleasing men can be very deceptive. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”-Galatians 1:10 (KJV)

DO you remember just a week or few days after the Jews hailed Christ and shouted hosanna, hosanna, they turned around and screamed crucify him, crucify him, when the high priest arrested and sent him to Pilate. No man would judge you in the final day but Jesus. Live to please him alone.

CONFESSION

My life is given to pleasing Jesus my Lord. I do not that which pleases me, but that which pleases God. I honor everyone who needs to be honored, but will never act against God’s revealed will.

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs. 25:28 KJV” He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

  Proverbs 1:7 (KJV). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”