I've known many people over the years (myself included) who have waited and waited and waited on God to give them a particular direction in a decision--to open a door, to close a door, to hear from a burning bush, to see the dew on or off the fleece, to see the writing on the wall (my rendition is a postcard from heaven), to have someone or something at a certain place at a certain time. Actually, most anything that will take the decision away from our having to make it ourselves will do. Often the wait overshadows the need, decisions are not made, opportunities are missed, and life takes on a motionless hue.
Decisions that involve direct commands from Scripture are not the difficulty. Decisions that involve our coming to some conclusion are where many of us leave it in abeyance. God gives us more freedom in decision-making than we might think. But this freedom is based on wisdom thinking, developed through an understanding of the whole counsel of God.
I've mentioned a book that I've just recently read--Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen. I'd like to share a brief excerpt with you today.
We are seeking a biblical answer to the question: In the area of freedom, on what basis should a believer make a decision? The examples of Old Testament leaders, the theme of biblical Wisdom Literature, the instruction of Jesus, and the practice of the apostles all point to wisdom as the single controlling factor. As we saw in the previous chapter, the pattern the apostles followed is particularly striking. Not once is it recorded that they attempted to discover God's individual will for such decisions. Their explanations for their plans are couched in phrases such as " "We thought it best," "I thought it necessary," "If it is fitting," "It is not desirable," "It seemed good," and simply, "I have decided." (Luke explained a decision Paul made about an itinerary with the words, "for he was hurrying" [Acts 20:16]!). Clearly these men were exercising their freedom of choice (as well as their responsibility to decide) within God's moral will. And wisdom best encapsulates the criteria for these decisions.
Here is the concept stated as a principle: In the area of freedom, the believer's goal is to make wise decisions on the basis of spiritual usefulness. Or, when there is no command, God gives freedom and wisdom to make spiritually advantageous decisions.
Photo ~ Fork, by kirkandmimi
via pixabay CC0 Creative Commons
via pixabay CC0 Creative Commons
