In life, we have lots of choices. The older we get it seems the more decisions we are required to make. Some decisions are small, like what’s for dinner. Others can be overwhelming like homeschool or public school? We can’t always know what the results of our decisions will be either. There are times when we have to step out in faith and hope we are making the correct decision.
Is there a way to make better decisions?
I think there is. I think the answer of course is in the Bible. It is the greatest commandment spoken by Yeshua, our Messiah, Master, and Teacher. When asked what the greatest commandment was Yeshua repeated the commandment given by Moses to God’s people in his farewell address. I like to call it the original sermon on the mount. It is in the Torah, and it is called the book of Deuteronomy. The whole book of Deuteronomy is Moses last sermon to God’s people before they enter the promised land. Moses starts in chapters one through three reviewing the history of their time in the wilderness since they left Egypt. When he get’s to chapter four he begins to remind them of all the commands, statutes, and rules that God gave to them to help them live together in peace and order. In chapter five, Moses reviews the ten commandments, and in chapter six, we hear the greatest commandment of all. “You shall love Yehovah your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.” This verse is surrounded by all the commandments that God gave to His people to know exactly how to love Him. When Yeshua repeats this verse in Matthew 22:37, the people he was speaking to knew exactly where this verse was being quoted from. They understood the context. Yeshua goes on to say that this is indeed the greatest of commandments, but the second is like it to love your neighbor as yourself. He completes his answer by saying all the commandments hang on these two commandments.
This is I believe the answer about how to make good decisions in life. It is all about relationships.
Good decision making comes from knowing and loving God and His people.
When I have a difficult choice to make in life I ask myself how will my decision affect my relationship with God? Then I ask how will it affect my relationship with others?
The only thing I can take into eternity is my relationship with God and His people. Nothing else really matters.
Recently, I had a decision to make it was not an easy decision. I had to decide if I would trust God and His plan and design for relationships. God made a plan for how we should interact with each other. This plan involves a great deal of humility for most people. God put in place a structure that brings order to relationships.
God’s design is given to us in the model of family. God created Adam, and then from Adam He created Eve. Together God made it so Adam and Eve bore children. This is called a family. In the family structure God placed Adam as the head of the home, and Eve as his helpmate. Eve is not less than Adam, but Adam is in the place of authority. Adam is also held responsible as the head of the home. Adam reports directly to God. This is God’s design.
This is the design of the Kingdom. God the Father is our Creator, and He sent His Son to be our Redeemer, and His Spirit remains with us as our Comforter. Though we can not fully comprehend these Truths, we see that God is showing us that there is indeed an order to His Kingdom. This is how relationships work. Yeshua submitted to the Father and came to earth as a man, to die for us. This is the ultimate example of how to make good decisions.
RELATIONSHIP
The relationship that Yeshua has with the Father, and the relationship He creates with us in his obedience and humility is the example of how we should love and serve one another.
My choice, my decisions, can be made based on what I want, what I think I know, and what I feel, or they can be based on the example and teachings of Messiah. Messiah taught that we should be willing to submit ourselves to others for the greater good of the Kingdom relationship. He died that I might live. He chose me over Himself. Not because He thought I was worthy, but because He knew that God is trustworthy.
I had a difficult decision to make. Do I go with my feelings? Do I trust my own heart and mind? Or do I trust God? Do I believe that His Word, His order and structure is correct, despite what I think I know? I learned many years ago, that I often don’t know as much as I think I do.
I had to decide, I had to make a choice.
In an instant that choice was made. My relationship with my spouse is more important that my desire to have my way. In that moment, I remembered God’s faithfulness in the past. I remembered that even when I can’t see it all clearly, He can. I remembered that His Word calls me to submission, and humility. In that moment, it was a painful decision, but I knew it was the right decision.
If you are facing a difficult decision ask yourself a few questions:
How will my decision effect eternity?
Will this decision strengthen or weaken my closest relationships, beginning with my relationship with God?
Am I being stubborn for righteousness sake, or for selfish ambition?
Life is full of tough decisions, but if we place our trust in the one who is Trustworthy, we can be assured that He will be faithful.
I would rather choose to submit and strengthen my commitment to God and those whom He has place over me, and trust that He will see my obedient heart, than question, and complain.
I made my decision and I walked it out.
In short order, God showed me that I made the right decision. It doesn’t always work like that. But, in my experience, once I decide to submit and trust, I find peace almost immediately. Often, shortly after the peace comes, the blessing of obedience also comes.
LOVE YEHOVAH WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH! AND LOVE OTHERS ABOVE YOURELF!!!!
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