When I was a real estate developer, I stumbled across a land deal that seemed too good to be true. I was afraid someone else would beat me to it if I didn’t act fast.
The seller would sign a contract only if I put up a large, nonrefundable deposit.
You can probably finish the story.
The deal really was too good to be true. I lost so much money that I had to borrow from the bank just to stay afloat until I could recover.
What I would have given to go back and make a wiser decision.
We’ve all had moments like that. Maybe not with a land deal, but with a job, a relationship, a move, a purchase, or an investment. Every day we make dozens of decisions. Most are routine. Some shape the course of our lives.
Whether a decision is life-altering or relatively routine, how can you build a habit of making wise decisions when the Bible doesn’t give you a direct answer?
The first step is understanding what kind of decision you’re making.
Two Kinds of Decisions
There are two kinds of decisions: moral decisions and preference decisions.
Moral decisions are choices between right and wrong. Love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t lie, cheat, or steal. Some things the Bible specifically commands or prohibits.
The operating principle for moral decisions is obedience. What honors God?
Preference decisions are choices between right and right. Accept one job or another. Move to one city or stay where you are. Buy the red car or the blue car. The goal is to figure out the “wiser” right. Preference does not mean unimportant. It simply means that anything not commanded or prohibited in Scripture is permissible, although it may or may not be wise and beneficial.
The operating principle for preference decisions is wisdom. What is the wise thing to do?
Most of life’s decisions are preference decisions. Scripture won’t tell you which job to accept, which city to move to, or which house to buy. Those decisions require wisdom.
A Decision-Making Dashboard
Like you, I want to honor God with every decision, so I’ve developed a simple decision-making dashboard that I consult frequently, often several times each day. It has become a habit.
Think of the dashboard in your car. It doesn’t drive for you, but it gives you the information needed to stay on course. Once familiar with it, a glance is often enough. In the same way, a small set of biblical questions can help you make wise decisions.
Here’s mine.
My dashboard includes three major gauges and two smaller ones.
Three Major Gauges
The three major gauges represent three mindsets: son, steward, servant.
They ask what kind of decision would a son, a steward, and a servant make?
The mindset of a son. 1 Corinthians 16:14 says, “Do everything in love.” As a son of our Father who loves the world He made, the first gauge prompts me to ask, “What is the loving thing to do in this situation?”
The mindset of a steward. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” As a steward of what God has entrusted to my care, the second gauge prompts me to ask, “What does faithful look like in this situation?”
The mindset of a servant. Luke 17:10 says, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” As a servant of Jesus who asks me to deny myself and follow Him, the third gauge prompts me to ask, “What does the Master need in this situation?” rather than, “What do I want?”
These three questions don’t answer every decision automatically, but they consistently move me toward wiser ones.
Two Smaller Gauges
The two smaller gauges are more like gut checks, like gauges for battery charge and oil temperature.
Abiding versus Striving. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain (abide) in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” As a branch that can’t produce fruit unless attached to the vine, a quick look at this gauge prompts me to ask, “Am I abiding in Christ or striving for Christ in this decision?”
“Letting” it happen versus “Making” it happen. Psalm 127:1-2 says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain…. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.” A quick glance at this gauge prompts me to ask, “Am I trying to make it happen in my own strength let it happen by trusting God?” “Letting” does not mean doing nothing. It means acting faithfully without forcing an outcome God has not given you.
If you don’t already have a method for making wise decisions, consider adopting the dashboard I’ve developed or creating one of your own. A good dashboard will help keep you from driving into a ditch.
Now let’s turn to an actual preference decision you need to make. The more difficult the better. Go ahead and picture it in your mind.
You’re standing at a fork in the road. You have two or more options. All your options are morally permissible. You’ve checked your dashboard, but no choice is clearly wrong or obviously right, and you still aren’t certain what to do. These seven principles can help you choose wisely.
Seven Principles for Choosing Wisely
1. Don’t Let Emotions Drive Your Decisions
Not every decision will turn out as you hope. For example, I know a man who left a steady job after twenty-one years because he felt restless, even though he didn’t know why. Without understanding the source of his feelings, he jumped from job to job and hasn’t found stability since. That is one reason not to let a temporary emotion make a permanent decision. Instead, pray and seek confirmation that God is leading you.
2. Accept Compromise When Necessary
You may not get everything you want. In those cases, choose the best option if you can find peace with it. If circumstances force a quick decision, choose the wisest available option and entrust the outcome to God. On the other hand, if you have a persistent uneasiness you cannot explain, do not ignore it. Keep praying, gathering information, and seeking wisdom. And sometimes it’s helpful to ask yourself: Would I rather be imperfectly happy or perfectly unhappy?
3. Count the Cost
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is to think about the cost of making the wrong decision. We’ve all had the misfortune of having to undo something we should never have done in the first place. Mistakes can be costly in terms of time, money, and peace of mind.
4. Take Your Time
Slow down the room. Most decisions become clear if you give yourself enough time and information. When do bad decisions happen? When we act in haste or don’t yet have enough information. Remember, very few decisions are so urgent they can’t wait two weeks.
5. Talk to Wise Counselors
Don’t make big decisions in isolation. Seek people who know you, love you, understand the issue, and are willing to tell you the truth. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).
6. Allow Your Emotions Time to Catch Up
Big decisions can stir powerful emotions. Your mind may know what to do before your emotions are willing to let you do it. When you get bad news, give yourself a day or two to absorb the blow.
7. Write It Down
Writing out the decision-making process brings clarity. The mind has a way of blowing small details out of proportion. By writing things down, you can see the bigger picture and think more clearly. As a professor once said, “A pencil is one of the best of eyes.” As Francis Bacon said, “Writing maketh an exact man.”
A Process for Your Next Decision
For the decision you’re facing now, or any major decision in the future, here’s a step-by-step process to help you discern God’s will. Keep in mind, this is about seeking what the Master needs, not just what you want.
1. Define the Decision
Write down the decision as clearly as possible. Be specific about the choices you’re considering.
2. Create a Purpose Statement
Ask yourself why you’re making this decision. Write out a statement explaining your purpose. What exactly are you trying to accomplish, and why? Are you making this choice because of a need or a want? Are you unhappy, or is there a deeper issue driving your decision?
3. Ask Key Questions
Once you’ve clarified your purpose, submit it to these questions:
• What is my desired outcome?
• What are my expectations, and are they realistic?
• What would Jesus do in my situation?
4. List the Pros and Cons
For each choice, make a list of advantages and disadvantages. Take a sheet of paper, make two columns, and write them down. This can help you evaluate your options more objectively.
5. Seek Spiritual Guidance
Use the seven steps of guidance to discern God’s will (see chapter on “God’s Will: What It Is. How to Find It.”). Seek guidance through prayer, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, your conscience, your circumstances, wise counsel, and fasting.
6. Wait if Necessary
If the answer isn’t clear, wait. Trust that God is working behind the scenes. Don’t rush Him. Sometimes He uses the waiting period to shape your character or prepare you for what’s ahead. God is not the author of confusion. If the way remains unclear and you have freedom to wait, keep praying, gathering information, and seeking counsel.
Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” The word rule means “to act as an umpire.” Peace doesn’t replace or negate Scripture, wisdom, facts, or wise counsel. But after you have carefully considered those, peace can serve as an important umpire.
Big decisions can feel overwhelming, but God promises to guide you. Commit your plans to Him and trust His timing. “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).
Then make the wisest decision you know how to make.
For Reflection and Discussion
- Heart (Reflect): Describe a time when a wise decision changed the direction of your life for the better. What helped you make that decision?
- Head (Understand): Why is it important to distinguish between moral decisions and preference decisions? How does that distinction change the way you seek God’s guidance?
- Hands (Apply): Hands (Apply): What important decision are you facing? Identify whether it is a moral or preference decision, work through the dashboard and practical process, and take the wisest next step you can.
Photo created by Patrick Morley
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Discover a reason to get out of bed, live with purpose, grow in Christ, and become the man God created you to be—one day, one choice, and one step of faith at a time.
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