Life is a series of decisions leading to success or failure.
How would you like to be able to make the right decision EVERY TIME.
Learn how, in this vital article that can change your life.
HOW many times has your life, your happiness, your self-respect been upset and disturbed because you've made a wrong choice, or an unwise decision?
Looking back on our past all of us can remember choices we had or opportunities that presented themselves — and we wish we could go back and CHANGE what we did.
How would you like to be able to make the right choice — EVERY TIME? You can, you know, if you apply the right principles EVERY TIME! The principles for making right and wise decisions are available to you. If you are willing to diligently apply them each time, YOUR LIFE can become a series of successes in the decisions you have to make.
Are you willing to learn these principles?
Life Is Choice
Life is a series of decisions.
You can't begin a day without making choices. What time to rise, what clothing to wear, what to have for breakfast, what course of action for the responsibilities of the day, etc., etc.
The majority of our decisions are routine and dictated by routine and preset requirements of job, school, weather and environment. Most of us do well enough in these routine decisions. It is the bigger, more unusual decisions that affect our lives where we become vulnerable and need to make the RIGHT decision. Decisions like: Whether to buy a new car and which kind — whether to quit your job and move to another area — whether to go into business for yourself — whether to add a room to your house or buy new furniture — whether to go to college, or take a trip to a distant place.
Sadly enough, many have faced major decisions in life, chosen unwisely and found their lives in a shambles which took time and tears to remedy.
Making wise decisions is not a matter of chance. Some people are not just "lucky" while others are unlucky. Success in choices depends on basic factors. Those who are "lucky" have their luck in accidentally or intentionally using the right principles in making their choices.
If you KNOW the right principles and apply them, you eliminate most of the elements of chance. Success is assured because you have eliminated the risks.
The Right Source
Most people, faced with important decisions make the same fundamental ERROR! This error is common to man because man is basically a self -centered creature. He usually depends on himself for the inherent ability to arrive at a conclusion.
The Word of God — the Bible — which is the book about man, but inspired by man's Creator — God — who knows man intimately, most accurately describes this basic fault in man.
"Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is NOT IN HIMSELF: it is NOT IN MAN that walketh to direct his steps." These words were written, under the inspiration of God by His prophet Jeremiah, chapter 10 verse 23. The fundamental, underlying basis for making right decisions lies OUTSIDE the pole of the man making the decision. This seems remarkable, but it is nonetheless true.
Whenever we have a decision to make, the first thing we usually do is to ASSUME WE have the basic ability to come to that decision. In reality, God's Word makes clear we ought NOT to rely upon our own abilities alone. True, we may have to use the abilities God has given us, but directed by God — not ourselves.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto thine OWN understanding" (Prov. 3:5).
Wisdom is truly realizing the basic nature in man. Few people have discovered this basic nature. Most people feel they are benign creatures, basically good, gentle, having outgoing concern for others, generous, kind, and considerate. Hence, being all this, they certainly could be relied upon to make a decision which would take all factors into consideration. But, unless God's spirit has opened their minds most people don't know they are inherently by nature selfish, covetous, greedy, full of vanity, deceitful, proud and wicked.
It is true, you know.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:" and "the carnal mind is enmity AGAINST GOD: for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be" (Jer. 17:9 and Rom. 8:7).
Those who have come to know God have learned this about themselves and have come to the first point of wisdom which is NOT to depend on this source for a decision.
Leaning to this source for a decision will ALWAYS tend to lead us to a WRONG DECISION. This source of wisdom will always tend to a decision or a choice that flatters self, looks good to others, makes the "big splash," satisfies lust or exacts revenge.
Truly the Proverbs describe this end: "There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 14:12 and 16:25).
Rule One: Ask God FIRST For His Wisdom
So, the first rule in the SEVEN RULES to wise decisions is to GO OUTSIDE of self to God to get the wisdom.
Any other first step would be foolish. God alone knows just the right course of action you should take! No one else does! He should be the first source.
You will have other steps to follow, but unless they are guided by God they may avail you nothing. In fact following all six other rules could lead you to ruin without God directing them.
“. . . the Lord is a God of knowledge and by HIM actions are weighed" (I Sam. 2:3).
When you are confronted with an important decision in your life, go to a private place and pray to your Father in heaven. Tell him about your decision — how it affects you, what are the alternatives that lie before you. Admit to him in prayer that you LACK the ability and wisdom you need and want His omniscient help and wisdom.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it [wisdom] shall be given him" (James 1:5).
Admit in your prayer that without God's help you would tend to choose the course of vanity, lust, pride, envy and retribution. Tell Him you want HIs mind and attitude — an attitude of service, concern for others, love, patience and mercy.
If the decision is profound enough, add fasting to your prayers so God sees that you truly care and want to be guided by Him.
Solomon an Example
When Solomon became King of Israel after his father David, he knew he was faced with many momentous decisions. The responsibility of ruling a mighty nation and making all the decisions that are part of being a monarch weighed heavily upon him.
What was the first thing Solomon did? His actions are an EXAMPLE for us — recorded in the Word of God. "And Solomon said unto God, Thou has shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead . . . for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can JUDGE [decide for] this thy people, that is so GREAT?" (II Chron. 1:8-10). Because Solomon sought God FIRST and acknowledged Him as the source of RIGHT DIRECTION, God granted him wisdom and knowledge to make right decisions and choices. God blessed him and the nation Israel over which he ruled (verses 11:17).
No matter how large or small a decision we have to make, we should always go to God FIRST and acknowledge Him as the source of direction, wisdom and knowledge to make the right choice.
Even if we must make a quick — rapid-fire — decision, we always have time — even if it is only an instant — to pray within ourselves, "Father, help me to see Your will."
Rule Two: Get Examples From the Bible
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His LAW [the Bible] doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and WHATSOEVER HE DOETH SHALL PROSPER" (Psalm 1:1-3).
The Bible — God's Word — is an instruction book for man and a history of man's mistakes, successes, rewards and punishments. It runs the full gamut of human experience.
In the Old Testament, when God was bringing Israel out of Egypt, the people had to make many decisions. Some were right — many were wrong! These examples are priceless in helping us avoid making similar mistakes in decisions we must reach.
Some of the wrong decisions which led to disaster for the people are recorded a second time in I Corinthians in the 10th chapter. Notice what the apostle Paul says about these occurrences: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ends of the world are come" (verse 11).
By a deep knowledge of God's Word — through constant study and meditation — we have a backlog of experience to draw upon. We certainly can profit by the mistakes others have made, and also from their wise decisions.
Seek in your knowledge of God's Word, or by meditating further on it, to find a basic principle that relates clearly to your choice or decision. Try to determine how your reasoning may be similar to a specific example in God's Word.