How to Make Wise Decisions

Word of Life Korea SYME Discipleship Topics

Week 18: WILL OF GOD

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OTHER DISCIPLESHIP TOPICS

01. Assurance of Salvation
02. Quiet Time
03. Prayer
04. The Church
05. Temptation
06. Evangelism
07. Scripture Memory
08. Godliness/Christlikeness
09. Old Testament Survey
10. Bible Study
11. Follow Up
12. The Tongue
13. Theology 1
14. Money
15. Christian Family
16. World Missions
17. Personal Testimony
18. Will of God
      What is the Will of God?
      Gideon's Fleece Game
      Making Wise Decisions
      Obeying the Will of God
19. Self Image
20. Christian Growth
21. Spiritual Gifts
22. Theology 2
23. Baptism & Lord's Supper
24. Cults
25. New Testament Survey
26. Lordship of Christ
27. Forgiveness
28. Theology 3
29. Spiritual Warfare
30. Servanthood
31. Discipleship
32. Faithfulness

OTHER BIBLE MESSAGES

There once was an old Scottish woman who went from home to home across the countryside selling thread, buttons, and shoestrings. When she came to an unmarked crossroad, she would toss a stick into the air and go in the direction the stick pointed when it landed. One day, she was seen tossing the stick up several times. "Why do you toss the stick more than once?" someone asked. "Because," replied the woman, "it keeps pointing to the left, and I want to take the road on the right." She then kept throwing the stick into the air until it pointed the way she wanted to go!

As we have already learned, the Bible says that God wants us to know what His will is. That's why He gave us His word, the Bible. If, however, you are looking for the Scriptures to answer where God wants you to live, who He wants you to marry or what occupation He wants you to have, you may be disappointed. So, in areas like these, how do we make wise decisions?

For a car to run trouble-free it is important to have an air filter and an oil filter. They keep the air and oil clean so the car can run smoothly. The principles of the word of God are like filters. When we use these filters they keep out the things that don't please God. They keep our lives clean. We need to screen all of our decisions through a biblical filter. Below are some "filter-questions" to help you get started.

1. THE "FOR-WHO" FILTER: WHO AM I DOING THIS FOR?
For Me? Matthew 6:33 says "but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." While we live on this earth each of us are building a kingdom. We are either building a kingdom for our self, trying to make our self happy and successful or we are helping to build the kingdom of God, to make Him happy and successful. With every action that I take, I need to ask "Who am I doing this for?" Notice that if you put God first you will be happy and in His eyes you will be truly successful.

For Others? When there is a choice of pleasing God or pleasing others, we must please God. Galatians 1:10 says, "Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ."

For God? Philippians 1:21 "For me to live is Christ." A good question to ask yourself is "What am I living for?" "For me to live is ____________?" "For me to live is to make a lot of money" or "For me to live is to get a good education" or "For me to live is to hold a respectible position or title" Can you honestly say "for me to live is Christ"

How easy it is to say that I am living for God. If I am living for God, then all I have, all I am and all I hope to be belongs to Him.

2. THE "HOW" FILTERS: HOW AM I DOING THIS?
Everything I do should be "to the glory of God"(I Corinthians 10:31). Acts 1:8 tells us that we "shall be witnesses" and I Corinthians 14:26 tells us that "all things are to be done unto edification." In a general way the two ways to glorify God are (1) evangelism (helping unbelievers come to know Christ) and (2) edification (helping believers grow in Christ). This can be done practically through (a) lifestyle (Matthew 5:13-16) and (b) lip-style (Colossians 4:6; I Peter 3:15).

So, in order for my decision to be what God wants, I need to be sure it will glorify Him. I need to be sure that (directly or indirectly) it will either help unbelievers come to know Christ or will help believers to grow in Christ.

As we learned before, God's will has a lot to do with what we are. Our lives are like containers. A container can go to many places and do different things but it is what the container holds that gives it value. If our main focus is on a place or a job, this could change very quickly and leave us empty. Our focus needs to be on the inside; on pleasing God. If we "be" right, we will "go" and "do" right. And if this is our focus, then we can be used in whatever vocation or location containers that would best please Him. This is the heart of knowing the will of God. With this as your focus let me give you ...

3. A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR MAKING WISE DECISIONS
A. Start with Prayer. Ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). Be willing to follow His will not matter what it is.

B. Ask some Tough Questions Based on Biblical Principles:
1. What does God's Word have to say about it (Psalm 119:105)?
2. What will it cost (Luke 14:28-30)?
3. How will it affect me and others (1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:9)?
4. Will it help or hinder other objectives (Luke 11:42)?
5. Will I have to compromise any convictions (James 1:22-25)?
6. What do spiritually mature people say about it (Proverbs 15:22)?

C. List the Options and Write out the Pro's and Con's of Each.

D. Some Helpful Hints.
1. WHAT are you going to do with your life? A good question to ask is "With the gifts and abilities God has given me, is this the most effective way I can use my life to glorify and magnify God?" For some this may mean being a missionary, pastor or Bible teacher. For others it will be another occupation which will be most effective for God.

2. WITH WHO are you going to live your life? Perhaps you are single and wonder what God would like for you to do about it. An interesting and seeming paradox in the Bible is found in Proverbs 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 7:21. Single people are told to be content about their singleness; to not actively seek to change their marital status and then are told that whoever finds a life partner has found a good thing. So, if you are really the person God wants you to be (and if God would be pleased for you to be married), you will find yourself attracting and being attracted to others with the same heart and mind for God. But don't get impatient; be content with your present situation; this is the will of God for you!

3. WHERE are you going to live your life? Again, ask: "Is this place the best place for me to be effective for God?" We also need to remember that effectiveness is many times not measured in the number of people we are leading. We need to be faithful to the commitments we make. Faithfulness is another quality that is the will of God.

by Steve Nicholes

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