Four Biblical Guidelines to Decision-Making

Q: Making major decisions is hard for me. I’m afraid of making mistakes that will put my life off course. Is there any biblical guidelines to decision-making?

Steven: There are four main Biblical guidelines to consider when decision-making is difficult. These guidelines should be combined with an understanding of Biblical doctrine, an open mind, awareness of one’s circumstances and prayer.

1. Don’t make a major decision based on doubt. Let things marinate until they become more clear.

2. If you have several choices and none of them are wrong, go with the expedient one (the most practical or advantageous option that incorporates God’s will).

3. If you have no idea what to do, investigate doors until one opens.

4. Finally, the thing that trumps everything is that you have a duty to make a God-pleasing decision, even if it costs you status or persecution.

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward ~ Hebrews 11:24-27 (NKJV).

Sometimes people may think if they make the wrong decision, their life will be forever off course. Or they look back on the past and think, I picked the wrong path, and now I will never get things straightened out. Both of these attitudes are incorrect.

God knows everything that is going to happen, that’s true, but we are not puppets dancing on strings. In His grace, God lets our personal gifts, God-pleasing choices and God-pleasing decisions be a part of His plan. He can bless any number of directions we might take when we come to any number of forks in the road. Through prayer, discussion with others and a reflection on how God made us, we can determine how to live in a way that gives thanks to God for his love (Romans 12:1).

For example, what if a man has a chance to marry three different girls. They are all great, Christian women. The man finally decides on one of the three. Did he somehow pick the wrong one? No. The Bible tells us marriage is a gift from God. The Bible tells us what to look for in a marriage partner. The man then let his personal preference be a part of the process. God can bless the marriage no matter which partner he chose. So it is with many decisions. Is God’s arm shortened that He cannot work in your life if you chose to be a plumber from a list of career choices that include teacher, doctor or astronaut? No, God can bless either career or steer you into a new one. Or what if you decide to live in a rural area versus an urban area…is God not present in both places?

When we prayerfully consider what decisions will glorify God and reflect his revealed will in Scripture, we can often choose a variety of paths. Make your decision and pursue it with confidence and contentment, knowing that your heavenly Father is with you every step of the way.

Read more on Decision Making in Lesson 9 of God is Your Roommate.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)