Making Decisions

1 Corinthians 6:20 We have to make decisions every day. Most of our decisions are based on our daily routines, and they are easy to make. Some decisions are not so easy. This is especially true when we are faced with new and challenging situations. Some decisions have moral and ethical implications while some decisions have legal or financial implications. In last week’s article “Return to Hedonism” (see archives for November 30, 2016) we talked about the word “post-truth” which basically means that a person makes decisions by how they feel more than the facts or truth that are presented. Are there principles that can help us in guiding our decision making? How will we decide when we have mixed feelings? How do we make a choice between two things when neither is wrong in and of itself? Is it always wrong to make a decision by how one feels? What does it mean when we say “follow your heart” or “follow your gut feeling? I hope that you get the point that there are circumstances in which making a decision can be difficult. Since I am a Christian, in this article I want to address principles that I have found helpful for making decisions. The first principle is that I must keep in mind whose I am and who I am. Did you notice that I listed whose I am before who I am? There is a reason for this. First, since I am a Christian I should remember the words of Apostle Paul. He writes, “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20, NASB). In this text Paul is making the point that Christians are joined to Christ in one spirit (v. 17). Those who are joined to Christ are not to allow their appetites and passions control their actions. Since Christ died for us we are joined to Him (v. 17). In another passage of scripture Paul again speaks to us concerning whose we are. He says “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Cor. 7:23). Does this sound similar to what was just said? What is the difference? In this chapter Paul is telling us that our human status does not determine our standing with God. A slave should seek to be free, but if not his status as a slave according to social standards does not keep him from being free in Christ Jesus (v. 22). In this passage Paul is speaking about how a Christian is to think about his or herself. Paul sums these two concepts in his letter to the Romans. He writes, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect ((Rom. 12:1-2, NASB). The world teaches us that we are to put ourselves first. These passages teach us that who we are is uniquely connected to God, and this relationship to God gives us a new perspective on who we are and how we are to conduct ourselves. Now that we have discovered whose we are and who we are we come to a second principle for making decisions. Because we believe in Jesus we are joined together with Him in Spirit. Since this is true we are to make decisions by the Word of God found in the commandments of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Contrary to what some believe Jesus did not come to destroy the Law. He came to fulfill the Law. He came to set straight the misunderstandings of the Law. He came to do what the Law could not do; namely to redeem us from our sins. There is a lot of controversy about the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1-17). This is my challenge to those who believe that we do not need to follow the Ten Commandments. Show me any one of the commandments that we are given permission to ignore and I will show you a social problem, a moral failing, or an ethical dilemma that results. When did it become alright to ignore the sixth commandment? It says, “You shall not murder” (v. 13). How many homes have been destroyed with the lives of children severely hindered because of the violation of the seventh commandment that says, “You shall not commit adultery” (v. 14). The Gospel of Matthew, chapters five through seven, gives us an account of Jesus’ teachings in what is known as “The Sermon on the Mountain.” At the conclusion Jesus challenges us to make a decision about His teachings. He says, ‘“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24, NASB). ‘“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand” (v. 26). The floods and winds of life will test the foundation our decisions. What principles guide your decision making? Is it public opinion? How about what you read on social media? Do you make your decisions because of pressure from your peers because you want to be accepted by the crowd? Do you make decisions that you know are wrong because you just want to be a good team player or you just want to get along with others? Do you succumb to the new morality and changing ethics? If you are a Christian do you not know that God changes not? God is faithful. He remains constant and true to His creation and His people that He created for His own glory. It can be difficult to make the right decisions for God in a world that is hostile toward God. This brings us to a third principle for making decisions. We are to abide in Christ so that we can produce fruit. This means that we maintain an ongoing relationship with Christ. It means that we keep in constant contact with Him. Therefore there are two things that Christians must do. They must be guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit that gives us the fruit of patience, perseverance, endurance, and ability/power to stand firm in the face of the opposition. These qualities are not natural to people, especially when under pressure. God gives us these qualities by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Finally, we stay connected to Jesus by obeying His words and prayer. Obedience is important because often we do not understand everything that God tells us to do. Yet, we obey Him because we have faith in Him. We believe that if we do as He says, He will bring to fruition His plan and purpose for our life. Prayer is communication with God whereby we express our desires and needs to the Father. Prayer is also hearing from God so that He is able to guide and direct our decisions in all circumstances. Jesus tells us that we are to abide in Him because without Him we cannot produce any fruit (John 15:5). When we abide in Christ we can pray and keep His commandments He will give us what we need to produce fruit. This means that we make decisions based on who Jesus is, who we are in Him, and what He has commanded and taught us to do.