Examples of decision-making

Examples of good decision-making

Joshua 24:15 KJV 1900

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

See also Ge 13:8–9; Ge 35:2–4; Ex 18:24–25; Ex 32:26; Ru 1:15–16; 1 Sa 14:6–7; 1 Sa 24:4–7; Ne 4:21–23; Es 4:15–16; Ps 27:4; Da 1:8; Da 3:18; Mt 4:19–20; Mk 2:14

Lk 10:38–42; Lk 19:8; Ac 4:36–37; Ac 5:35–39; Heb 11:25–26

Examples of bad decision-making

Genesis 3:6 KJV 1900

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

See also Ge 12:10–13; Ge 13:10–11; Ge 16:1–3; Ex 32:1–4; Nu 13:31; Nu 16:1–3; Jos 7:21 Achan disobeyed the Lord’s instructions; Jdg 8:23–27; Jdg 14:3; Jdg 16:1; 1 Sa 13:8–9 Saul made the offering in Samuel’s absence; 2 Sa 11:2–4; 1 Ki 12:8–15 Rehoboam followed bad advice; 2 Ki 24:1; Ho 2:5; Jon 1:1–3; Mk 10:22; Lk 15:13; Ac 5:1–2; Ac 24:27; Mt 26:14–16 Judas decided to betray Jesus Christ for money; Mk 15:1 the decision to put Jesus Christ to death

The sovereignty of God in decision-making

Genesis 50:19–20 KJV 1900

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

See also Ge 45:8; Nu 24:13 Balaam could only curse or bless at the Lord’s bidding; Jdg 6:39–40; Jdg 14:4; 1 Sa 2:25; 2 Ch 25:20; Ps 103:13–14; Joe 2:25–26; Mic 7:8–9

It was God’s will that Jesus Christ should suffer:

Ac 2:23–24; Ac 4:27–28

Romans 8:28–30 KJV 1900

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Decisions have to be made

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 KJV 1900

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

See also 1 Ki 18:21; Eze 18:30; Mt 27:17; Mt 27:21; Mk 10:21; Ac 2:38–40; Ac 16:30–31; 2 Co 1:15–17; Ga 3:2

Good decision-making involves consideration for others

Micah 6:8 KJV 1900

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?

See also Job 31:16–23; Is 1:17; Je 22:3; Am 5:14–15; Mt 5:13–16; Mt 25:35–36; Jas 1:27

All decision-making must be subject to the will of God

James 4:13–15 KJV 1900

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

See also Ps 127:1; Mt 26:39; Mt 26:42; Lk 12:16–21