sf678 - HOW TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS - DEVELOPING A FAITH THAT WORKS (James 1 5-11)

HOW TO MAKE good decisions

Developing a Faith That Works

James 1:5-11

April 13, 1997 p.m. - Tim McGhee

1A. THE PROBLEM: ______________________________

"A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways." (vs. 8 KJV)

Indecision causes ...

Unstable ______________________________

2A. THE PRESCRIPTION: __________________ (vs. 5-6a)

STEP ONE: ______________________________

"If any of you lack wisdom ..." (vs. 5a)

Definition of Wisdom:

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Prov. 11:2

STEP TWO: ______________________________

" ... he should ask God ..." (vs 5b)

"It is the Lord who gives wisdom; from Him comes knowledge and understanding." Prov. 2:6 (GN)

STEP THREE: ______________________________

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt ..." (vs. 6)

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Heb. 11:6

3A. THE PROMISE: GOD WILL GIVE IT!

"... Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (vs. 5c)

1B. How God say He'll give: _____________

____________________

2B. Two Guidelines for Making ________ Decisions

God _____________ to make the decision for you.

God's wisdom is found in __________________.

(Psalm 119:105) "God's word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." It shows the way.

HOW TO MAKE Good Decisions
Developing a Faith That Works

James 1:5-11

Life is full of decisions and life is basically a series of choices we make every day

A young businessman went to an executive one day and asked for his wisdom, "What is the secret of business success?" The man said, "Wise decisions." "How can I learn to make wise decisions?" "Experience." "How do you get experience?" "Dumb decisions!"

James talks about how to make decisions

He gives us the problem, then he gives us the prescription, then he gives us the promise from God.

1A. The Problem: Indecision

(James 1:8)"A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways."

"double minded" = "two souled" -- pulled apart in different directions, divided loyalties, divided priorities.

The Guy who Couldn't Make Up His Mind
Story by Dr. Seuss:

Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad
Who came to two signs in the fork of the road
He looked one way and the other way too
The Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well, the Zoad scratched his head,
And his chin, and his pants.
And he said to himself,
I'll be taking a chance.
If I go to Place One, that place may be hot
So how will I know if I like it or not.
On the other hand, though, I'll feel such a fool
If I go to Place Two and find it's too cool
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.
So Place One may be best and not Place Two.
On the other hand, though, if Place One is too hot,
I might get a terrible earache and die.
On the other hand, though, if Place Two is too low,
I might get some terrible pain in my toe
So Place One may be best."
And he started to go.
Then he stopped and he said,
"On the other hand though,
On the other hand, other hand, other hand though...
For thirty-six hours and one half that Zoad
Made starts and made stops at the fork in the road
Saying, "No, don't take a chance. It may not be right.
Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright.
"Play safe," cried the Zoad, "I'll play safe, I'm no dunce. I'll simply start off to both places at once."
And that's how the Zoad who would not take a chance
Went no place at all with a split in his pants.

Three ways indecision makes you unstable:

Unstable emotions.

Ø It's a strain when you can't decide.

Ø You wonder, "Did I do the right thing?"

Guy goes to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist says, "Are you indecisive?" Guy says, "Yes and no." "What do you mean by that?" "I used to be but now I'm not sure."

Unstable relationships.

Ø Lack of commitment destroys relationships.

Unstable spiritual life. (7)

"That man will not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord."

Ø It blocks your prayers.

Ø Double mindedness can lead to a double life. A spiritual schizophrenia

Ø That's when you want to do your will and God's will at the same time.

On Sunday you come and sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" and Monday you go AWOL

2A. The Prescription: Get Wisdom

(James 1:5)"If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him."

1B. Admit your need. (5)

We all lack wisdom.

Wisdom is different from knowledge.

Ø Wisdom is knowledge put into practice. Wisdom is seeing life from God's point of view

Ø The Bible talks a lot about wisdom. But all we're interested in is knowledge.

Ø The world is impressed with knowledge. God is impressed with wisdom.

Ø Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God would make decisions.

Pride blocks wisdom

(Proverbs 11:2) "When pride comes then comes disgrace. But with humility comes wisdom."

Ø You can't learn anything if you think you know it all .

2B. Ask for wisdom.

Pray to God. Talk to Him.

(Proverbs 2:6)"It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from Him comes knowledge and understanding."

Ø Solomon asked for wisdom

If God came to you and said, "What do you want in life more than anything else?"

(Proverbs 4:7 NCV) "Wisdom is the most important thing; so get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding."

(James 4:2) "You have not because you ask not."

Twenty times in the New Testament it says, "Ask, and it shall be given."

Literally says, "keep on asking, be persistent, be continual."

3B. Anticipate it. (5-6a)

Circle "not doubt"

Ø If you want wisdom -- first you've got to ask the right person. Then you've got to ask the right way -- in faith, believing, not doubting.

Ø The means the key to wisdom is prayer, the condition is faith.

Ø Doubt is debilitating. It hinders God from working in your life.

Peter walking on the water

(James 1:6b)"He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Ø A lot of Christians are like corks in the ocean, blown around, back and forth.

(Hebrews 11:6) "And without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

If you want to receive anything from God you've got to believe in advance you're going to get it.

Ø That's faith. If you thank God after you've got it, that's not faith. Faith is thanking God in advance.

3A. THE PROMISE: GOD WILL GIVE IT!

(James 1:5b) "If any man lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

God wants to give you wisdom.

1B. How God says He'll give wisdom:

Continually - "Ask God who gives..."

Ø In the Greek that is in the continuous tense

Generously.

Ø His resources are unlimited. He has enough resources for everybody. He's got plenty.

Cheerfully - Without finding fault.

Ø He loves to give. It's His nature to give.

2B. Two Guidelines for Making Good Decisions

God does not want to make the decision for you.

Ø It doesn't say, Pray and ask God to make the decision for you.

Ø He wants you to get on your knees and pray for wisdom until you know the right thing to do

Ø Maturity in the Christian life is making decisions the way Jesus would

God's wisdom is found in God's word.

(Psalm 119:105) "God's word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." It shows the way.

Ø God gives enough light for us to find our way today.

Application

What is James saying? You will live your life either by chance or by choice.

The quality of your life is determined by the decisions and choices you make and the wisdom that is behind those decisions and choices.

Where are you double minded?

Ø Where have you been wavering and trying to live two different ways, trying to live for the Lord on Sunday and then downplaying it during the week? That produces instability.

I want to talk to you about life's greatest decision.

The greatest decision you'll ever make in life is this: Who's going to be Number 1 in your life?