Wisdom in Decision Making
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Introduction
Introduction
Researches have said that the average person makes over 35,000 decisions a day. Researchers at Cornell University have discovered that we make over 200 decisions a day on food alone. (Should I have another cup of coffee?)
How are you wise in making decisions? When you have multiple options in front of you, how do you determine which is the best choice? Today’s message lay’s out a Biblical method in making wise decisions.
Illustration
Illustration
“In an experiment examining the effects of choice on happiness, Iyengar and Lepper randomized individuals to either a group in which they could choose from 30 types of chocolate or a group in which they could choose from six types of chocolate. While subjects initially reported liking having the choice of 30 chocolates, they ended up being more dissatisfied and regretful of the choices they made than those who only had the choice of six.” –Frederick Muench, Ph. D
Joke
Joke
Two men got out of their cars after they collided at an intersection. One took a flask from his pocket and said to the other, "Here, maybe you'd like a nip to calm your nerves." "Thanks," he said, and took a big gulp from the container. "Here, you have one, too," he added, handing back the whiskey. "Well, I'd rather not," said the first. "At least not until after the police have been here."
In the process of Wisdom in Decision Making, let us carefully consider this proverb and find application in it:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Transition
Transition
Many people are paralyzed when it comes to decision making. They don’t want to make the wrong decision or some struggle with FOMO. As a believer, we are afraid of displeasing God or missing God’s Will in making a decision.
If you are married; He or she is the “one for you.”
David, the "man after God's own heart"
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
(see ; ), But David wasn't perfect. While we know that he loved God and pursued Him, he also had his share of faulty decision-making, some of which are seen in
22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
acts
1. Inquire of the Lord
1. Inquire of the Lord
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart”
The word “trust” means “to lie helpless, facedown.” It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general. (Wiersbe)
Solomon asked the Lord for Wisdom and God granted it to him. “Since you have asked … I will do what you have asked.” (1 Kings 3:11-12)
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Daniel admitted that he did not have any wisdom in himself but gave credit to God as he prayed:
23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Wisdom is not a teaching, but rather a person named Jesus. When God calls everyone to pursue wisdom, it’s a call to know Him through the Lord Jesus. He is the wisdom of God.
Illustration - Signs from God (3 slides)
In the clouds
In your food
Signs on the road
There’s a better way to hear from God …
2. Trust The Wisdom of God’s Word
2. Trust The Wisdom of God’s Word
“Lean not on your own understanding”
Wisdom begins with a relationship with Jesus and a knowledge of who God is. Developing a greater knowledge of the character of God.
This is where you take time to consider who God is, what has He said in His word, what has He said about Himself, about you, the circumstance, and our relationships, and His expectations on us.
We start with the Bible because not only is it the truest information we have, but because it is alive!
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
In decision-making we tend to start with things we don’t know and work through to the things we do know.
The best way to do it is to start with the things you do know and then work toward the things you don’t.
What we know is that the Word is always true; it’s breathed out by an infinite eternal God. It’s going to be true to whatever it speaks to.
Practical Tip: You should ask if what you’re considering is sin? Does God’s Word forbid you to do the thing you’re thinking about doing? If the answer is yes, then this process is over.
This process is not to help you to think through whether should you sin or not. It’s not meant to help you justify thinking or feeling or acting contrary to God’s Word.
3. Ask For Godly Council
3. Ask For Godly Council
“In all your ways acknowledge him”
One of the greatest gifts God has given His people is His people. So often we neglect or ignore the collective wisdom God has given in this room.
14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
When proven, Godly people speak into your life and decisions, there is safety.
12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
When you isolate yourself and don’t let people speak into your life, you break out against all sound judgment to your own harm.
Practical Tip: So when you think about godly counsel, there are three different spheres of people to think about.
Family and trusted people who know you best: They can tell you an honest perspective of yourself and let you know how your personality and tendencies are affecting your decision-making.
People in your church who have demonstrated wisdom in the area you’re struggling with or the area you need guidance in: Go to people who have handled what you’re dealing with in a wise way. Ask somebody else, there are people in this church that have walked through the season you’re in that you can benefit from. Seek them out. Ask around for someone who has been wise in parenting, investment, dating, career. Benefit from the larger church.
Seek out your Pastors and Elders: Every pastor and elder here has been placed over this church to serve you. We love getting to be your pastors. It’s a privilege that you would entrust part of your spiritual life to us and listen to the teachings of God from us. Don’t ever think you can’t reach out to us.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
4. Make a Decision and Do It
4. Make a Decision and Do It
“He will make straight your paths”
You can make a wise decision without a vision or sign from God. So many of us don’t want to make a decision until God tells us exactly what to do.
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
2 pet
“His Divine Power” - Charles Spurgeon was enamored by this phrase! This is the same power that dug the foundations of the earth and sea, “guides the marches of the stars of heaven!” And will one day shake them all!
Sometimes it seems as though we are willing to try almost anything except the knowledge of Him.
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
You can pray, go to God’s Word and people and still be completely paralyzed in making a decision, because you’re waiting for some mystical moment when God whispers in your ear what to do.
Just like we as parents want to teach our children to eventually make their own decisions, Your Father wants to empower you to be able to make wise decisions.
Walk with the Lord and He will bless your steps!
3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves his life.
5. Ask for Faith
5. Ask for Faith
What you and I need is faith to trust Him, His decisions, and what He decides to bring in to our life.
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
He is directing our life.
9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
“God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart.” – Charles Spurgeon
“God is too good to be unkind. He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart.” – Charles Spurgeon
"Obsessing over the future is not how God wants us to live, because showing us the future is not God's way. His way is to speak to us in the Scriptures and transform us by the renewing of our minds. His way is not a crystal ball. His way is wisdom. We should stop looking for God to reveal the future to us and remove all risk from our lives. We should start looking to God—His character and His promises—and thereby have confidence to take risks for His name's sake." —Kevin DeYoung in Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will, p. 39
Closing Blessing
Closing Blessing
ephesians 3.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.