Psalm 16 - Deciding factor

Psalm 15 gave of a list of good behavior and now Psalm 16 gives us a list of benefits we enjoy when we belong to God and some of the cons of going your own way. Write up a pros and cons list based on the things you find in Psalm 16 and decide which side you are on. Decisions no matter how easy or difficult require a process of weighing one benefit over the other. There maybe multiple factors in a decision but there is usually a final deciding factor. What is your deciding factor in choosing Christ or not?

1. How does God make things good? How are the same things apart from Him bad?

2. Have your sorrows increased? Are you sadder, have more problems, or complain more than you did this time last year? If so, what idol might be taking place over God?

3. What is your portion and cup? Are you secure in it or do you have envy or pride that needs checked?

4. Do the boundaries of the Christian life seem pleasant or restricting? Are you enjoying the pleasant places inside the boundaries or are you tempting yourself by looking resentfully past the lines? Are their areas in your life you've let slip past the boundaries?

5. How does the Lord counsel and instruct you?

6. Do you set the Lord before you to lead you or behind you to follow your agenda and clean up your messes? Do you plan something and then ask the Lord to bless it or do you seek him first?

7. Verse 9-11 Sign me up! What do you dream of when you read "eternal pleasures"?