Let’s look at some passages from the Bible that give specific and clear instruction about many tough decisions. I want to begin with:
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14)?
If you’re facing a decision about a relationship—it could be marriage, a business partnership, or an organization you’re considering—this verse will give you guidance. If there is a yoke involved in that relationship, it should only be with a fellow believer. A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart they pull. It binds them together to do a job. The yoke Paul is talking about is any kind of covenant, contract, or even unwritten commitment that would bind you with someone for a certain purpose.
Of course, that applies to marriage. Are you facing a critical decision about whether to begin a new relationship that could lead to marriage? If so, this is wisdom you need before you begin: Are you both truly committed to Jesus Christ, do you hold the same doctrinal beliefs, and are you both involved in serving the Lord in some way?
How many people do I know—men and women—who chose to ignore this biblical principle in choosing their mate! And in every case, they lived to regret it. What you want in a good marriage is close fellowship, two people joined together as one, and how can light and darkness be joined together? This is an unequivocal principle from God’s Word; there’s no way to read it any other way. It may be a difficult decision, especially if your feelings are already engaged, but choosing not to be yoked unequally will prove the best for you in the long run.
This applies not only to marriage but to other types of partnerships as well, where you are legally or verbally committed to a project or business. This verse is clear guidance, and to overlook it is to invite disaster into your life.
Here’s another clear directive:
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7).
Are you facing a financial decision? This passage warns against unwise debt. The person who borrows too much and has excessive debt is indeed slave to that debt. Credit card companies are making a lot of money because so many people are trapped in perpetual debt. Honestly, they don’t want you to pay off your card and be debt free, because they are charging huge interest rates. If you’ll just pay the minimum, they’re more than happy to keep you in debt.
Our culture has become a slave to materialism, and we are bombarded with all kinds of advertising that entices us to spend more, own more, have more—as though it will make us happy. Who of us hasn’t fallen prey to their enticements and gone in debt for stuff we didn’t really need. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is to set a goal to be debt free as soon as you possibly can. There is helpful material available to help you set up a budget and become debt free, and the wise person will follow it.
Think more than twice about taking on new debt. It will enslave you faster than you can imagine.
Here is a passage that gives us a general directive to guide specific decisions:
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
You can take this quite literally and make sure you’re making wise decisions about what you are eating and drinking. Those decisions may seem small at the time, but they truly have a huge impact on your future health, energy, and ability to function. God will hold you accountable as to the stewardship of your body and your health. Some things are out of your control, but many problems can be avoided by paying attention to what you take into your body.
Every decision needs to be put under this spotlight, as we ask ourselves, will this bring glory to God? For example, you may be deciding whether to take a new job or not. That’s a momentous decision. You need to carefully evaluate the impact this new job will have on your life. Will you have less time for your family or church? Will you have to compromise your Christian testimony to do this job? Is the product or service offered by this job one you can be proud to be associated with?
I have a friend who was faced with a decision of whether to keep the job she had—a good paying job with good benefits—but the product was anything but wholesome and helpful. Her dilemma was to decide if as a Christian she should be associated with such an organization. This verse governed her decision; there was no way she could justify remaining with the company because it promoted anything but a pure and helpful lifestyle. At some financial loss to herself, she resigned. I can tell you she has no regrets about that now, and she went from that job to working for a church where she was able to encourage and help many people.
One more passage which gives some specific guidelines when you’re facing a tough decision is:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).
You could make a list of the characteristics in this verse to help guide any decision you face:

Is it true? Would this decision be based on truth or would it cause some kind of deception or lie?
Is it noble? Noble means it would show fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals.
Is it right? Would anyone be treated unfairly because of this decision? Is there another decision you could make that would clearly be more fair and just?
Is it pure? A pure decision is one that isn’t tainted with wrong motives or impurity or lack of integrity.
Is it lovely? Would this decision show love in some way or could it be a means to destroy love.
Is it admirable and excellent and praiseworthy? Would people you trust approve and confirm it is a good decision?

Think about your decision in these terms. If it checks all these boxes, it’s a good sign this could be a good decision. But if it misses on some of them, it should give you pause to think further about it.
Once you’ve sought God’s wisdom for your tough decision, then move forward with God’s timing and his courage to do what you know is right. Expect God to work in your life through your decision but also know even the right and best decision can cause difficulties. Proverbs 22:3 says the prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. It’s good to count the cost in advance and be prepared for the consequences of your decision.
Some tough decisions are indeed loaded with potential negative consequences, and so there could be bumpy roads ahead. In addition, you and I can make mistakes even as we try to do it right. Ecclesiastes 11:4 says whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. That just means if you’re waiting for totally perfect conditions before you make a decision, you will never get anything done. There are times when faced with a tough decision, you do your best to seek God’s wisdom, and then you move ahead with courage despite your fears and doubts.
But you’re never alone in this process. As a believer in Jesus Christ, he is there with you, as he has promised, and his Holy Spirit is your constant companion to give you God’s thoughts, and heavenly wisdom. It’s one of the greatest benefits we have as children of God—to have his personal guidance on a daily basis through his Word and his Spirit within us. We are not lone rangers having to do it all by ourselves. What good news that is.

Ver todos los episodios