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We all make decisions every day – whether we want to or not. Some of these decisions are made unconsciously, while others are made very consciously. Some decisions have little impact, while others can change our entire lives! We want to explore how to make the right decisions in accordance with God's Word.
Courage to decide
First, we must understand that God does not make the decisions in our lives for us. Human beings were created to work, to make plans, and to carry them out (see Genesis 1:28). Keep in mind, this was true even before the Fall. God wants us to make good decisions! He created us with free will and equipped us with the ability to make choices! Have the courage to make decisions! God gives us guidance in His Word: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). I find this to be a powerful verse that encourages us. With God, we can tackle every question in our lives, no matter how difficult or unclear it may seem.
In God's Word, we often find a connection between "decision" and judgment or a verdict being passed. God's Word admonishes us to always listen to both sides before making a judgment. That is, before I judge something or make a decision, I listen to different opinions or the different positions on the matter. Today we would say: Before I decide something, I weigh the pros and cons of the issue.
Wisdom in decision-making
Furthermore, we learn in God's Word to let others finish speaking in conversation (cf. Proverbs 18:13). What lies behind this? On the one hand, it is of course an act of courtesy, but on the other hand, it is also a sign of wisdom, since we can learn from what we hear. Unfortunately, sometimes we don't want to hear the other point of view or opinion at all, because we have already made up our minds beforehand or are prejudiced for other reasons.
This brings us to the next point: seeking advice. In Proverbs, we learn that our plans will succeed if we seek counselors (see Proverbs 15:22). Indeed, why shouldn't we learn from others, perhaps even from their mistakes? Here, however, it's important to pay attention to the question being asked, to consider what kind of decision is at stake. Who is the right advisor in this specific case? Let's look at an example from the First Book of Kings. King Rehoboam initially approaches the matter correctly. When the people come before him demanding a "lighter yoke," that is, relief from their burden, he doesn't respond immediately. He takes three days to consider and consults his advisors. But then he disregards the advice of the elders, who recommend that he grant the people's request. Instead, he listens to the young and less experienced advisors who grew up with him and harshly rebuffs the people by proposing to make the yoke even heavier than it already is. The consequence of this unwise decision was that the people of Israel turned against him, and he lost a large part of his kingdom (cf. 1 Kings 12).
God wants us to make good decisions!
Consequence of the decision
We read in Moses: “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: a blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; but a curse if you do not obey the commands of the Lord your God and turn aside from the way that I am giving you today, so that you follow other gods that you have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26ff.).
This is a clear statement with a direct call to action and an unambiguous list of the resulting consequences. Joshua expresses it similarly. He speaks to the Israelites: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: […] But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24:15b). He once again demonstrates to the people what it means to serve the Lord. When everyone affirms that they, too, want to serve the Lord, he points out that the decision has consequences. They should put away the foreign gods and incline their hearts to the Lord (cf. Joshua 24:23).
Decision of faith
If you want to serve the Lord, then consciously choose to do so and do it with complete devotion. Then you too will be blessed! In Micah it says: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Nothing more and nothing less, and yet so important.
The decision of faith is always a personal one. Not your parents, guardian, or anyone else can make this decision for you. You must decide for yourself whether to accept or reject the Lord's gift of grace, namely your salvation. There is no middle ground. There are only these two options.
Doing the right thing
If the fundamental decisions have been made correctly beforehand, then it won't be so difficult for us to do the right thing in everyday life. Let's take an example from the Word of God. In Galatians 6:9, it says that we should not grow weary of doing good to all people. If this principle is firmly established in my life, it will no longer be a question for me whether or not I help people in need in a particular situation. Jesus said to Martha, "But Mary has chosen the good portion" (Luke 10:42). Isn't it sometimes like that for us, too? We see so much work at home and sometimes have to force ourselves to drop everything to rush to church or to devote ourselves to the Word of God. And yet, there are still those situations in which we don't know how to act. God's Word says that the Holy Spirit will teach us and give us guidance. We see such guidance in the life of Paul. In the Acts of the Apostles we learn that the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from preaching in the province of Asia (cf. Acts 16:6). Another path was destined for him.
To receive and understand such instructions, it is essential that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We read in God's Word: "Be filled with the Holy Spirit" and "Since we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). It is important to know that the Holy Spirit always speaks in accordance with God's Word. Jesus once said: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).
May God grant us wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that with His help and the necessary courage and trust (that is faith) we may make the right decisions and resolutely follow our path in life.
From the Speyer Youth Compass