Give up what is good for what is best

"Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial."

- 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NIV)

Some years ago, I had volunteered my services to help a great organization. The work was something I enjoyed and believed it would sharpen my skills and fulfill my dreams. A few years later, another opportunity presented itself.

I really liked the people I was involved with the previous years and hated to let them down. So I tried to do both. But no matter how hard I tried, I knew it was time to say "no" to one and choose the other.

I had to believe it was time to leave this task behind me even though I enjoyed it and it was something good. A couple of months after I made the decision, I realized I made the best choice.

Choosing the best from the good requires learning to say "no," which may buy up a better opportunity.

Opportunities are everywhere. We need to be able to decide what needs to go in our lives and what things need to grow. We may want to say "yes" to everything, but that isn't always possible - or easy.

Each decision means leaving another opportunity to grasp the more important one. It may mean leaving a gap in a job or ministry that needs to be filled.

The Apostle Paul instructed the people that not everything they choose was beneficial for them. We know living a sinful lifestyle is not going to benefit us in a positive way. But I believe choosing the best over what is good also has beneficial results.

Learning when and how to cultivate saying " no" to what's best will keep us from losing out on God's best for us.

When striving to make the best choices, I like to keep in mind some wise advice I heard someone give: What is good may be the enemy of what is best.

• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Contact Annettee for information on her new book, "Dream Big!" at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413. She is available to be your personal life coach or speak to your group or event.