Consider
Acts 5:35
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Consider carefully. Do not be hasty nor rash. Be careful what you decide to do.
Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew.
Aaron created a golden calf for worship to please people.
Koran, Dathan and Abiram slandered Moses and died.
Samson found Delilah and lost his eyesight.
Eli kept silent with his sinful sons and lost God’s presence.
Uzziah became proud of his achievements and became leprous.
Moses struck the rock twice and missed the Promised Land.
None of these people needed to have ended how they did. If only they had considered before they acted.
Gamaliel told the Sanhedrin to consider. He was their conscience. He was their accountability partner.
I find myself continually across the world listening to people saying how accountability is so important and yet I only find true accountability in a few areas.
Here are a few questions I have learnt that can be asked of yourself when considering actions with people:
1. Who really knows everything there is to know about me, not just my history but my present thoughts and desires?
2. Do I pretend when I am with certain people? Why?
3. Do I find apologising difficult? When did I last say sorry?
4. How important am I in a given situation?
5. Do I talk about people when I have a problem with them or do I talk to them?
6. What is my gain in making this decision?
7. How can I give some gain to the person that I am giving loss to by my decision?
Consider. Think again. Think better. Think wiser. Think slower.
Missions Paul 