Godly Decision Making
How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered not a word. I Kings 18:21
Life is full of decision making. Christians and non-Christians make decisions differently because each have a different life authority. Those who are unsaved make decisions based on self. Those who are in Christ center their lives in Him, which indicates that their decisions will be based on His Word – at least they are supposed to do so.
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17).
In our text, Elijah is addressing assembled representatives of Israel, many who were following the prophets of Baal were not able to make the decision on their own as to whom they would follow. Elijah was about to reveal the false prophets of Baal as well as call back many Israelites back to the Lord. There are so many in America today that are following a leader of some kind and it is though they cannot think for themselves. Like the followers of Baal in Elijah’s day, it was as though some force was controlling them.
God created us with the ability to make choices. As Christians, we can choose good or evil indicating that we can choose to obey God or disobey Him. From man’s perspective those outside of Christ can choose to do good, yet their decisions can never please God.
One of the major problems in making choices is living with the consequences of our choices. We really cannot understand the crisis of the early Christians between 70 and 310 A.D. It was a time of incredible persecution and they were often faced with the decision of choosing between Christ and death. What choice would you have made? There actually are people in different parts of our world that must make that same choice today.
In AD 202, Roman emperor banned any Roman citizen from converting to Christianity. One pastor’s tormenters placed him between an idol and a cross and told him to choose one or the other. To choose the idol would have brought him protection from the government. To choose the cross was to die. He needed no time to make his decision and he chose the cross and was immediately crucified on the cross he chose.
Currently in America, death is not always the immediate consequence of our decisions and yet we face the same kind of choices daily. We either choose the idols of this world or the cross of Christ. We either take up the cross and follow Christ or we choose what the world has to offer.
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 (Deuteronomy 30:19).
If it seem, 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 (Joshua 24:15).
When making decisions, there are some things that you ought to consider? Ask yourself:
- Do I honestly, want to do the right thing?
- Will God be pleased with the decision I make? Will it glorify Him?
- If I disagree with another who also, honestly, wants to do the right thing, do I know all the facts that he knows?
- Does he know all the facts that I know?
- Is it absolutely necessary that a final decision be made immediately?
- Is there an element of emotional influence in this matter?
- Have I really prayed about this matter honestly desiring “Thy will be done?”
- When the church has worked through all these matters and the final decision reached differs from my point of view, do I recognize the importance of cooperation without criticizing?
- Do I really want God’s way in this decision?
There are many examples of those who chose God’s way. We often refer to Hebrews 11 as the chapter revealing the heroes of the faith. It is important to recognize what it was that made them heroes from God’s point of view.
- Able chose God’s way and gave a more excellent sacrifice than did Cain (Hebrews 11:4).
- Enoch chose to walk with God and walked right into God’s presence (Hebrews 11:5).
- Noah chose to follow God’s direction and built an ark when the whole world around him thought he was crazy (Hebrews 11:7).
- Abraham chose God’s way – a life of faith as opposed to Lot’s way of living by sight (Hebrews 11:8-10).
- Isaac, Jacob and Joseph chose God’s way, believing God for what they could not see and God blessed their choices.
- Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season in Egypt (Hebrews 11:24 – 26).
- It was said of a number of kings in Judah what was said of King Josiah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord…and turned not aside to the right hand or the left (II Kings 22:2).
Hebrews 11:25 states that the decision made by Moses was against enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. This reveals a tenth consideration that we ought to weigh before making any decision.
Moses clearly had an eternal perspective in mind when he made his choice to remain in Egypt or to suffer with the children of Israel. Before making any decision, look at the eternal perspective.
Consider the major decisions you have made in recent days. Can you honestly say that you had God’s eternal perspective in mind when they were made? It would make sense that we would want to be as close to Him as possible when making decisions. The leadership of His Spirit is so crucial as to how those decisions will turn out.
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5).
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye (Psalm 32:8)
George Stiekes held successful pastorates in churches in Michigan and Washington among other places. He currently resides in North Carolina and blogs at Reverent Reflections. We recommend his ministry and republish his material by permission.
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash