Have you ever been out with friends and tried to decide where to eat? This simple decision often degenerates into an exchange of the phrase “no, you decide”. At times we may honestly want the other person to get what they would like, but I wonder if it isn’t also pointing to our constant need to make decisions. Maybe choosing a restaurant is just one decision too many some days.
It has been estimated that the average adult makes 35,000 decisions per day. That’s roughly 2,000 decisions an hour while we are awake. That’s a lot of thinking! Many decisions we make without much thought as we follow our daily routines. Others we make quickly because they don’t seem to matter much. Do I wear the red shirt or blue shirt today? Other decisions we face, however, are more consequential. They do matter. How will I respond to this situation? What will I say to (or about) this person? What will I feed my heart and mind today?
Important decisions require help. If you face a major financial decision, you go to your financial advisor – someone who knows what to do. If you are experiencing health problems, you go to your doctor – someone who can determine the correct course of action to fix the problem. If we are to make good decisions, we need input from someone with wisdom. Who better to consult than King Solomon? Solomon was revered in his day for his incredible wisdom. This was God’s gift to him as he led God’s people Israel. You can read how that came about in 1 Kings chapter 3. For today, let’s look at his words in Proverbs 3:5-7.
Solomon shares some important ingredients to good decision making in these verses. First, he warns us not to lean on our own understanding (verse 5). He also says “be not wise in your own eyes” in verse 7. So often we think we know more than anyone else, or at least enough to be able to handle what we are facing. The reality is that there are many things that we do not know with our limited information. There are many things that we cannot see such as the consequences our decisions will have on ourselves or on others.
Second, Solomon tells us to trust in the LORD with all our hearts. Depend on Him and trust His wisdom and leading completely, knowing that He knows so much more than we do. Solomon says “in all your ways acknowledge Him” in verse 6. In everything we do, every choice, every decision, every situation. Putting God first and looking to bring glory to Him and not to ourselves, following His instructions given to us in The Bible and not merely following our own ideas. This will change the way we live, think, make decisions, and interact with others.
Did you notice that Solomon said in “all your ways” not in some of them. People used to love the quote (and the little book) “don’t sweat the small stuff; and it’s all small stuff”. That might make us feel better in the moment, but it will set us up for a lot of trouble in our lives and relationships. We can’t just stumble through life not thinking about our choices. Solomon reminds us in verse 7 that we should fear the LORD (stand in awe of Him, respond to Him in humility and reverent worship) and turn away form evil (all that would disobey or dishonour God in any way). Live how we already know through the Bible that God wants us to live. If we would start there, we will be ready to lean on his guidance when we face the next decision.
Finally, Solomon tells us in verse 6 that if we do this, God will lead us along and show us the next step as we face our decisions day to day. Who could possibly be a better guide in our lives than the One who created us? He knows His purpose for each of us. He knows what He wants to do in each of our lives and through us as we impact each other. So, whatever you are facing today or will face tomorrow, don’t go it alone. Look to the One who knows all.