Making Good Decisions

We are shaped by our decisions.  Some have life-or-death consequences, while others are less important.  How can Christians make better decisions?

Decision-making can be an intimidating task for anyone, but Christians have the unique advantage of making decisions that are informed by God's Word.  Every day we face decisions about what to eat, whether to exercise, how to use our time.  

Over the years these regular decisions generally become habits, and we don’t think much about them. If we have guided these small decisions well from the start, we don’t really have to worry about them.  When we haven’t made good choices, however, even these apparently small decisions can blossom into procrastination or an unhealthy lifestyle.

We also regularly run into larger decisions that may have even bigger immediate and long-term consequences.  What will we study?  Where will we live?  Who will we marry?  What church will we go to?

Then there are the moral choices we are faced with.  Will we cheat on our taxes?  Will we turn down the drugs we are offered?  Will we allow ourselves to be pulled in by the soft porn we stumble across?

Whatever type of decision we face, there are biblical principles that can help us make better decisions.

For example, when a Christian recognizes a bad habit or faces a moral choice, he or she can apply God’s command to always choose His way, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)

As Christians, our overall direction in life is determined by our commitment to God, and we must remember to ask Him to direct our lives.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

How does God direct us?  Through the wisdom He gives us in the Bible, and through wise biblical counsel from His servants.  And all of our decisions are to be in harmony with God’s laws and His plan.  We should pray for God’s guidance and study the Bible to see what it says about the decision we are facing.

Many helpful principles are presented in the book of Proverbs, for example; it’s a book designed to teach us caution and understanding, and the wisdom to make good decisions. (See Proverbs 1:1-5)  It all starts with understanding how much greater God is than we are.  This reverence for God is known as “The fear of the LORD.” (Proverb 1:7a)

As we study the Bible, we should act on what we learn.  We should reject any choices that we discover would compromise with God’s laws.  Sometimes it is a simple matter to know what decision to make, simply because only one choice would allow us to obey God.  But most of our decisions are not that clear-cut.  Sometimes there are several good choices, which are not morally wrong.

When our problem seems uncertain, it can be very difficult to come up with a solid solution. Sometimes it can be helpful to look at the problem from many directions in order to clearly define it. Who is affected by it?  If other people are involved in causing the problem, why?  What do they get out of it?  If your decision is an opportunity, what exactly do you get by choosing it?  What do you lose if you don’t choose it?

We have already discussed looking for the related passages in the Bible.  We also need to search out the relevant facts about the specific problem or opportunity.  Many search tools are available in our information age, and it can be helpful to explore everything from the library to the Internet.  Look for reputable sources with relevant knowledge.  Be sure to put all the information you gather through the filter of biblical truth.

The Bible advises, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” (Proverbs 11:14)  

Different people will likely have different information and different perspectives that can give you a broader understanding of the situation.  With all the facts in hand, you can begin thinking through various options that could solve the problem or best deal with the opportunity.

Depending on the situation, it can be valuable to explore some outside-the-box solutions.  This is especially true when none of the obvious options seem that good.  Throwing around creative ideas and trying to see possible connections to seemingly unrelated fields can help you generate additional options.

How long should you spend on this step?  That depends on your time limit, and an understanding your own personality.  Some of us might be tempted to cut short this stage in the interest of reaching closure as soon as possible.  This can be a problem if we don’t have enough options to pick a good one.  Others might be tempted to continue in this stage for too long, out of fear that the perfect solution will be missed.  This, too, can be a problem if we put off a decision too long and perhaps miss the deadline.

At some point, we have to decide we have enough options and move on.  You might also consider weighing your options.  Make a list of the pros and cons for each one.  Weed out the worst ideas and carefully examine the best ones.

This is a principle that Jesus advised His followers to apply, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)  Whether deciding to commit our lives to God in baptism, or to remodel our kitchen, we need to count the cost and weigh the options.  And then take action. Don’t waver, but make your decision with determination.

If we have followed these steps carefully and put the decision into practice conscientiously, we will likely never have to regret the results.  God gives encouragement to those who seek His will and follow His way.  “...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we may confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

When we make a decision to follow God’s way and His law, we don’t have to look back.

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