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Decision Making
Decision, decisions! Life is one decision after another.
Choices need to be made daily. What to wear and how to wear it? What to eat? What to do and when to do it? What to study? What to say and how to say it? Not making a decision is even a decision!
Since decision making is such a big part of living, we need to learn and teach our children how to make decisions that reflect who we are - God’s children in Christ.
Kinds of decisions
Some decisions are routine. They involve the activities of daily life like eating and communicating, working and playing, resting and sleeping.
Other decisions have far - reaching implications for life. How shall I serve God with my life - as a pastor or teacher, as a doctor or nurse, as an executive or clerk, as a plumber or computer programmer, as a truck driver or technician? Where shall I go to school and what courses shall I take? Will it be college prep or a more practical high school program? Whom shall I date? Who will be my life’s partner in marriage?
Many decisions have moral implications. To do one thing may always be right, like taking good care of our bodies. To do another thing may always be wrong, like abusing our bodies with drugs and drunkenness. To do what is right and not do what is wrong is the only God-pleasing course of action.
But it isn’t always so easy. Some things may be neither right nor wrong. To do or not do what is neither right nor wrong calls for Christian judgment. And Christian judgment requires a growing understanding of God’s will and Word. That’s the standard for the Christian’s decision making. And that’s what we all need to learn to enable us to make decisions. As Psalm 119:105 put it, "your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path".
Results of decisions
Having made decisions, we have to live with them. The results are inescapable. Adam and Eve had to live with their decision to disobey God. Peter had to live with his decision to deny Christ. Judas died with his decision to forsake the Lord.
Young people have to live with their decision when they forsake chastity and decency. Bad decisions - wrong decisions - often bring difficult consequences.
Wise decisions - following God’s direction - may not always be popular with our peers. God - fearing decisions may not have the approval of the world. But they bear God’s approval.
Whether we are young or old, we all need to learn and to teach accepting responsibility for our decisions.
One decision - God’s
One decision, however, we can’t make of ourselves. That is the decision to accept Jesus Christ. "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord nor come to him."
Faith is a precious gift of god. God has made that choice and implements it through his Holy Spirit. That decision is evident in us who are His children.
A growing process
Initially, parents or guardians make all the decisions for their children. It isn’t too long before rebellion against parental decisions reveals itself in the stubbornness even in the little child. But as the child grow, more and more he begins to make decisions and to assume responsibility for them. That is part of the growing and maturing process.
Adolescence may be defined as growth from childhood to adulthood, from dependence to independence, from decision acceptance to decision making.
Throughout the growing process the child needs to be nurtured and trained in the Word and ways of God. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
Decision making guidelines
There are four basic guidelines to be taught that will aid the decision making process.
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ASK QUESTIONS: What would the Lord of my life want me to do in this situation? How will my decision affect those about me, my parents and family, my teachers? What will this decision mean for me?
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MAKE CONSIOUS, DELIBERATE DECISIONS as opposed to careless, hasty decisions: Look at all the alternatives. List the pros and cons, the pluses and the minuses. Consider the immediate (short range) results of this decision. Consider the later (long range) effects of this decision.
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FOLLOW THE GOOD EXAMPLES of people of God (Including Parents): who place God first in their lives, who live their priorities day by day, who walk with God all the way.
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PRAY OVER YOUR DECISIONS: Ask for guidance and direction. Always pray, "Your will be done." |
Suggestions for parents
Teach the above guidelines by your example: question, think, follow, pray.
Give your children the chance to grow in decision making. More and more guide them in making their own decisions.
Let you children share in the family decisions: family television viewing, entertainment, menu planning, activities.
Strengthen them in God’s will and Word through family participation in family worship, both public and private.
Something to think about
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, he repeatedly said no. How did he make that decision? See Luke 4:1-13.
Why do we find it so difficult simply to say no when we are tempted?
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane on Maundy Thursday, he made an important decision to go forward to Calvary. How did he make that decision? See Matthew 26:36-42.
- What are the most important decisions in our life?
How does God’s Word direct us in making these important decision?
Think about the consequences (punishment) of a bad decision and then the blessings of a good decision in life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, guide us through the power of your Spirit that we may follow the example of your Son, our Savior Jesus. Help us make decisions in our daily life that will follow your will, bring honor to your name, and fill our lives with the joy of Christian service and love to everyone. Amen.
The Family of God series is copyright © 1985 Northwestern Publishing House. and is published under the auspices of PACE (Partners Advancing Christian Education), Wisconsin Lutheran High School Conference, Milwaukee, WI. Reprinted by permission.
Northwestern Publishing House
1250 N 113th Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA 53226-3284
Phone: 1-800-662-6022
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