I have a friend that is needing to make a decision about a business deal. I suggested he pray about it and that I would pray about it, and then when we meet again we can discuss it. As I was praying this morning, the following came to mind that I thought would be useful in general for making important decisions.

• Does it advance the gospel?
  • While Paul in Philippians 1:12-14 did not choose to be imprisoned and chained to Roman soldiers, we can see a situation that most people would pray to get out of that God used to advance the gospel through Paul.
  • Would this decision, or one or more of the options being weighed, bring greater advancement to the gospel?
  • Some decision may not seem to have anything to do with the gospel. However, if you are a Christian under the Lordship of Jesus, everything you do, whether in word or deed has something to do with advancement of the gospel! Even a marriage decision has to do with advancement of the gospel. The wrong marriage can impede it and the right marriage can enourage it!
• What are your reasons for doing it?
  • Are those reasons godly, selfish, or neutral? When I say godly, I mean to ask, do they align with biblical principles?
  • If they are godly reasons, what other ways are there of acheiving the same goals that are godly that ought to be considered?
  • If they are selfish or neutral reasons, can there be a godly focus given to that reason that does not give power to the selfish motive?
    • Consider, though, that as long as there is a selfish motive, a godly motive could still be used in a selfish way. It is best, if the motive is selfish, to steer clear because it can always be there to influence you after you follow through with the decision, even with a godly justification.
• What are the costs/consequences
  • of doing it?
  • of not doing it?
  • This is only for comparison, because sometimes God is asking us to do something that has great cost!
• If God is leading you to this thing you are making the decision about, be sure you still aren’t being motivated by selfish motives and using God as an excuse to do it!
  • If God is leading it, we ARE to do it in obedience to His lordship and our love towards Him! (John 14:15, 23; 1 John 5:2-5)
  • Has there been confirmation of God’s voice?
    • Christian counsel (from strong and mature Christians, not novices!), biblical principles, prayer, strong conviction by the Holy Spirit, and circumstances
      • Be cautious of circumstances!
        • They can be misleading since we can take what was not God’s providence, but the mere happenstance of things in a fallen world that we misinterpret as being God’s doing!
      • Be cautious, but don’t ignore lightly, godly counsel.
        • Even mature Christians can be misled by pragmatism or error in their understanding of scriptural principles.
        • Yet, one can be too quick to ignore such counsel and decide to do something with out seriously considering the counsel. (Proverbs 12:15)
      • Be careful of convictions alone!
        • It is easy to have a gut feel that is not of the Holy Spirit.
        • Pray, pray , and pray some more! If it is not of the Holy Spirit, you will find out! (James 1:5)
      • Be SURE to have biblical principles backing up your decision (with the proper hermeneutics, i.e, interpreative principles, used) (Psalm 119)
• Is there a need to wait on God for further instruction?
  • Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing – it means continuing in prayer, seekind godly advince, and searching the Scriptures and gather facts. God will use all of these to help with the decision at the RIGHT time! Sometimes you are to prepare, but not to move just yet!
• If God is NOT leading, there is no assurance God WILL bless it! Yet, that does not mean you cannot do it.
• If a decision between several options are all equally godly with no obvious direction given, then God can and will use either decision. It is for you to choose. However, be sure the decision is not motivated by selfish, versus godly personal, motives.
• See, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 1 John 5:14; James 1; Psalm 1; 37