Decision Making and the Will of God
Has anyone ever told you something to this effect: “You need to find God’s will for your life.” If you’re like me, when someone says this it can be rather confusing. How is it, exactly, that we find God’s will for our life? Or for that matter, how do I know what God’s will is for a specific decision I need to make?
Consider a scenario where you are planning on moving to another state. There could be a lot at stake in this decision. You prayerfully consider the decision and conclude that God is telling you to make the move. So you do, but, ultimately the move doesn’t work out and you return to your former place of residence. Does this mean God lied to you, or was it actually your subconscious that told you to move-not God? How was it that you concluded God had “spoke” to you regarding the move? Did you hear His voice? This type of struggle in decision making is one that many Christians have. Instead of considering God’s will for our lives, we should consider our life for God’s will. God is at the top of the food chain, not us. The question should not be what can God do for us, but what we can do for Him-how we can better serve His plan.
The Bible lays out this plan-it is His special revelation, written and left behind for us to follow. That is why it is so important for us to read it. As an example, in Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB), known as the Great Commission, Jesus says “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…” This is a clear command to share your faith with people. If someone is wondering if they should share their faith with another person, here it is written-yes, you should! You can ask people about it and pray about it, but Jesus has also provided direction in this matter.
In Tim Keller’s daily devotional book based on Proverbs, God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, he observes that what modern people want is almost a form of “magic” to make decisions. They want signs and feelings to determine if right choices are made. Keller says that this is actually how you guide an infant who must be carried or led. You guide an adult by speaking to them so they can understand and make decisions without being walked through every choice. The crux of his argument is that through a long path and a lot of work we develop integrity and righteousness. This is accomplished by reading the Bible and knowing God more through His written word. God’s decision-making paradigm is “wise character, hard won over time” (p.225).
In Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will, Kevin DeYoung corroborates Keller’s view that God’s will is given throughout the bible. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NASB) Pauls says “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” Paul continues sharing what God’s will is in 1 Thess. 5:16-18 when he declares you should “rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” DeYoung’s point is that the Bible lays out what God’s will is for us and that we should be glorifying Him in all of our decisions. He explains that if you want to buy a house or move to another location, do it in such a fashion that it honors God-God doesn’t particularly care what house you live in or where you live, but honor Him with your choices, the rest is up to you. He created all of us with our own personalities-we are a reflection of Him, and as such our decisions should reflect who we are as believers in Christ.
To live our life for God’s will we simply need to know Him more by reading the scriptures and spending time in prayer, trying to develop Christ-like character. This is no small task, but over time, knowing God’s word in an intimate fashion will shape us to be more like Him, and in turn, equip us with better skills to make both small and large decisions alike. If you are struggling with a decision, consider this last thought from Kevin DeYoung: “Live for God. Obey the scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. And as you do these things, do whatever else you like, with whomever you like, and you’ll be walking in the will of God.”