God desires our faith and trust in him and his Word throughout our lives over certainty and clarity. ![]() However, it does seem he is much more interested in our reliance on him and his Word and who we are becoming than in us feeling completely certain about our circumstances. This includes information we often wish was in the Bible ranging from when to buy a car, how to make decisions about marriage or a career, or the perfect method to raise teenagers! We do not know why God chose to put some things in the Bible and not others. ![]() He didn’t accidentally forget to add information he wanted us to have. He could have chosen to write it in any way he wanted. Through divine inspiration, God’s Word was written exactly how he wanted. As Jesus challenged His listeners in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path ( Ps. ![]() Clearly, our life and all of our decisions need to be consistent with what God has revealed in the Word. God’s Word provides the foundation for all biblical decision-making. These principles, outlined in the graphic to the right, can provide a framework to help ensure our decisions are being made in a manner which reflects both wisdom and faith. PRINCIPLES FOR BIBLICAL DECISION MAKINGĪs we have discussed the proper lenses to use when viewing biblical decision making, we can move on to several key principles to keep in mind when making decisions. We are called to balance these two aspects. Finally, God has given us both the freedom to exercise choice and the responsibility of stewardship according to the tenets of his Word. Interpreting Scripture in context and not depending on signs allows us to rightly divide the Word. This distinction will help avoid the twin errors of over-spiritualizing or using worldly wisdom. It is critical to view walking by faith and using Godly wisdom as interrelated instead of viewing them as an “either-or” scenario. This visual can be used to show the balance between freedom and responsibility in decision making.īecause biblical decision making is an important and often challenging task, we must approach it with right thinking. God crafts the decisions we make within his canvas into a beautiful “workmanship” (Eph. Within the canvas, there is freedom to make many types of decisions. Picture life as a “canvas.” We are commanded to keep our actions responsibly within the canvas of God’s principles from his Word and avoid unbiblical behaviors which are outside of the frame. In an effort to depict this balance, the following graphic shows how God has provided the believer with the responsibility to stay away from evil yet has given us freedom to make choices once we are operating within the safe zone. ![]() One of the most difficult areas of decision-making is balancing freedom and responsibility. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” There are consequences for actions and decisions that can last long into the future. 6:7-8, “Be not deceived God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Sometimes Christians experience significant anguish when they try to identify God’s will in circumstances where God gives us the freedom of choice.Ĭonversely, we must not be cavalier about our choices decisions have consequences, both positive and negative. God has given man dominion over creation and has asked us to be stewards of it. In his sovereignty, God has chosen to give human beings a free will, intellect, experiences, examples, and abilities with which to make decisions. God has given us the freedom and responsibility to make wise decisions that are within the bounds of the Word.
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