The Cross Road: A Guide to Wise Decision-Making

THE CROSS ROAD A Guide to Wise Decision-Making by Dr. Herb Rhedrick This guide is a combination of Dr. Rhedrick's personal biblical research and the compilation of other resources.

Wise Decision-Making Principles

About Dr. Rhedrick

Our choices shape us for better or for worse. So, making wise decisions can improve the quality of your life. The principles found here are based on your having a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. For the Lord is the Author and Giver of all wisdom.

Dr. Herb Rhedrick, Lead Pastor First Missionary Baptist Church

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THE CROSS ROAD

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Making Wise Decisions Every day of our lives are filled with one decision after another, whether large or small. From what we are going to eat to who we are going to marry.

Whatever decision you make, it is grounded in your belief system. Most people’s belief system is rooted is religion, philosophy, or science. Your system drives your day-to-day choices, your moral choices and even your political preferences. For that reason, this article will base its decisions on biblical principles. So, as a follower of Jesus, where does the decision-making process start?

Scriptures About Prayer "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." -Philippians 4:6 Psalm 17:6 1 John 5:14-15 Mark 11:24 Psalm 145:18

Brigham Young Proverbs 15:29

1. Begin with prayer.

Frame your attitude into one of trust and obedience as you commit the decision to pray. There's no reason to be fearful in decision making when you are secure in the knowledge that God has your best interest in mind.

2. Seek direction from God. As a follower, all our direction in life comes from God. This includes how we spend our time, talent, and treasure. Even how we use how body. To that end, we must remember to ask God to direct our lives.

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"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

So, How Does God Direct Us? To trust in the LORD wholeheartedly means you should not rely (lean) on your own understanding, nor the understanding of other belief systems. This includes your government, your social media resources, or the culture. For these sources are not to be trusted when their wisdom goes against the word of God. They are never enough.

All the wisdom of the world can never replace the wisdom of God. God’s ways are incomprehensible (Isaiah 55:8–9; Romans 11:33–34); yet He is trustworthy.

Proverbs 3:5-6

All our decisions are to be in harmony with God’s word and His plan. This requires us to study His word and pray for guidance. We should also seek wise counsel from other mature followers. When we discover the meaning of God’s word, then we must make the choice to ignore and refuse any other choice that would compromise God’s word.

NOT ALL DECISIONS ARE

EASY ONES,

BUT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE

THE RIGHT ONES. THE CROSS ROAD

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3. Clarify the type of decision you need to make.

Ask yourself if it is a moral or non-moral decision. It is a little easier to discern the will of God in moral areas because most of the time you will find a clear direction in God's Word. This includes things such as honesty, relationship fidelity, stealing, etc. (Look at the 10 Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17) Non-moral decisions may be harder but still require the application of biblical principles. For example, should you buy a new house or take a new job?

There is nothing inherently wrong with either of these, but your motives for doing so may be questionable.

YOUR WORD IS A

LAMP

TO MY FEET AND A

The 10 Commandments 1. You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. You shall not make idols.

3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet.

Exodus 20:1-17

LIGHT

LIGHT FOR MY PATH. PSALM 119:105

4. Clarify what caused your problem.

Ask yourself what caused the problem. Am I looking at the symptom or the cause? For example, if your car payment is overdue - is the problem the amount of the payment, the due date, or mismanagement of money? When your problems are not clear, then it is difficult to come up with the right solution. In the case above, all of these are financial problems, but your solution can be different.

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"It is important to know what you know and to know what you don't know...it is also important to

5. Seek a clear biblical direction.

Begin investigating, evaluating, and gathering information. Look for reputable sources with relevant expertise. Gain practical and personal information that relates to the decision and begin writing down what you learn. Then, filter this information through what the Bible says about the situation.

know who knows what you don't know."

ART MARKMAN Smart Thinking (2012, p.103)

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

PROVERBS 11:14

THE CROSS ROAD

6. Seek counsel for a difficult decision before you act on it.

One of the biggest mistakes we make, is that we seek counsel after we have made a major decision.

In difficult decisions, it's wise to get spiritual and practical counsel from a trusted, godly source, who has experience in the area you need assistance.

A pastor, elder, parent, or simply a mature believer can often contribute important insight, answer questions, remove doubts and confirm inclinations.

Make sure to choose individuals who will offer sound biblical advice and not just say what you want to hear.

PROVERBS 15:22

"PLANS FAIL FOR LACK OF COUNSEL, BUT WITH MANY ADVISERS THEY SUCCEED." PAGE 05

7. Choose based on spiritual priorities.

By this time, you should have enough information to establish your spiritual priorities as they relate to the decision. Ask yourself: Which decision best satisfies those priorities? If more than one option will fulfill your established priorities, then choose the one which is your strongest desire. Sometimes God gives you a choice. In this case, there is no right and wrong decision, but rather freedom from God to choose, based on your preferences. Both options are within God's perfect will for your life, and both will lead to the fulfillment of God's purpose for your life.

For example, you could have two job offers with almost identical terms and work conditions.

However, the difference may be the fact that you are more passionate about one area of work than the other. So, it may boil down to where you think you will be most effective as a believer rather than the job itself.

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it."

LUKE 14:28

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When we decide to follow God's way, we don't have to look back with

8. Act upon your decision.

One of the most tragic things to do, is to follow all the steps of making a wise decision and not act on it. Failing to act on a decision is a decision.

If you have arrived at your decision with the sincere intention of: 1. pleasing the heart of God, 2. incorporating biblical principles, 3. and applying wise counsel then you can proceed with confidence knowing that God will work out His purposes through your decision.

regrets.

ROMANS 8:28

"AND WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM, WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO HIS PURPOSE." THE CROSS ROAD

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The Wisest Decision You'll Ever Make Now, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, that is the wisest decision you can make, and it is as easy as ABC:

Admit you have not always lived a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

If you would like more information... ...on wisdom or how to have a right relationship with God or any other subject matter, please contact First Missionary Baptist Church at info@fmbc-concord.org.

One of our team members will be glad to walk with you.

Believe that Jesus is the right way to have a right relationship with the Lord.

Commit to pursue a life that is pleasing to the Lord every day, all day.

THE CROSS ROAD

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