John Donne was an English clergyman and poet who lived from 1572-1631. He’s the fellow who coined the well-known phrase, “No man is an island unto himself.” Wise, guy, he was. He understood that the choices we make impact not only ourselves but also those around us.
Take Rahab, for instance.
She’s the prostitute who lived in Jericho and gained fame for hiding two Israelite spies from danger. Apart from saving their lives, how did her decision to help them affect others?
Joshua 6:24-25 gives us the answer: “Then the Israelites burned the town [Jericho] and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the LORD’s house. So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho.”
Rahab’s decision to protect the spies set a major ripple effect into motion. I hope her family appreciated the risk she took on their behalf.
On the other hand, I’ll bet Achan’s family wasn’t impressed with the choice he made and how it affected them.
Joshua 7:20 says, “Achan replied, ‘It is true. I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighting more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.’”
Achan saw the loot, made an instantaneous decision to disregard God’s command to destroy it all, and he hid it under his tent. That choice triggered a ripple effect that cost his family members dearly. Contrary to Rahab’s story, he and his relatives died because of his disobedience.
Let’s connect the dots here: Our choices trigger a ripple effect, too.
Here are a few examples:
- Our choice to have an affair impacts our spouse, our kids and future generations, our friends, our church family, and our witness for Christ. It affects the legacy we leave. It even affects our finances.
- Our choice to neglect our body’s need for regular exercise and for a proper diet in moderation may mean others have to sacrifice energy and time in order to care for us when we get sick or our body breaks down (been there, done that).
- Our choice to spend money frivolously impedes our financial situation now and down the road. Consumer debt is a cruel task-master.
Consider the flipside:
- Our choice to build a strong marriage blesses our spouse and brings joy into the relationship. It provides stability for our kids and a positive role model for their own marriages.
- Our choice to care for our bodies enables us to live strong. It frees us to serve, enjoy life, and care for those who need help.
- Our choice to be wise financial stewards enables us to care for our own needs and give from our abundance. We live free from the weight of consumer debt.
When faced with a choice, stop to consider the ripple effect it will cause. Who will be impacted? And how far will that ripple effect go? Our choices matter. Choose life.
Question: How have your choices affected others, both negatively and positively?
Oh, Grace, I’ve lived this. My choice to get a divorce had ripple affects I never expected. It was so hard. I prayed that the pain would not be wasted. Your counsel is wise and true.
Hi Gerry:
Thanks so much for posting here, and for being vulnerable. Our choices really do have a ripple effect. I pray, too, that your pain will not be wasted and that God will use it for good. He is a God of second chances.
Blessings to you,
Grace