We all need guidance when it comes to making decisions about family, personal life, jobs, education, etc. Not only do we need guidance, we often have to provide guidance for our children, grandchildren, or those younger than us. A clear, well thought out decision-making process will help us—and allow us to help others—make Godly decisions.
Big decisions often seem very complicated and scary. Sometimes people say God spoke to them or they had a dream or vision revealing God’s plan. This seems so ideal–and there are Biblical accounts of God guiding people like that–however, those are the exceptions rather than the rule. It is highly unlikely that God will write out His plan for us in the sky or broadcast it over the radio. So how can we know what God wants us to do? How can we ultimately make the decisions God wants us to make? I believe God is not hiding His will from us – He wants us to find His will and do His will, for His glory.
The first step in making good decisions is to understand the Bible’s role in our decision-making process. We want to think about life the way God reveals it to us in His Word. For the believer, the Bible is the lens with which we view all things. If we don’t understand this, then we are crippled when it comes to making good decisions.
How exactly does the Bible help us make good decisions?
The Bible is “God breathed.” This means God inspired the words recorded in the Bible. When we study the Scriptures, we are reading the thoughts of God, not the thoughts of man. The Bible is actually better than a vision, conversation, or dream. The Bible is not a one-time occurrence; it is always available to us. We can always go back to the Bible if we want to know what God thinks.
The Bible is reliable. The word of God is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Many people point out that the Bible has been translated into different languages many times over many years, saying that it is impossible to have an accurate translation. However, scholars have worked tediously for just as long to make sure our translations are as accurate as possible. There are some excellent, very accurate translations out there for us.
The Bible is understandable. People often argue that the Bible is difficult to understand. It’s important to start in the right place! Starting in Genesis and trying to read straight through may not work for someone who has never read the Bible. It can be read in its entirety, but it’s crucial to read it in a strategic way that promotes understanding. I recommend people start in the Gospel of Mark. It is a clear, concise, action-packed version of the person and work of Jesus.
The Bible reveals to us God’s design. The Bible starts with God as our creator. He is the one who made us and made life as we know it. Clearly, the designer knows best how the created thing works. All of our appliances work best when we operate them according to the instruction manual. The Bible tells us how to live our lives according to God’s design. Our lives work best when we consult God’s instruction manual—the Bible.
God’s Word is our most valuable decision-making tool. The first step in Godly decision-making should always be to study the Bible and see what answers we find there. This is how we can align our lives with God’s design and begin to make Godly decisions.