Steps to Take Before Making a Major Decision

In review of Proverbs 2:6-7 it says, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest.”

Bottom Line:

Wisdom, knowledge and understanding come from the Lord, he provides help and protection to those who obey him and protects all of those who live as they should.

What this means to me:

God grants wisdom, knowledge and understanding. In my obedience to him, he provides the help and the protection I need,

When facing a tough decision about what to do with my job, I can look to the wealthiest businessman who ever lived, he wrote two books of the Bible, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and spread his wisdom about wealth and work.

There are three steps I can learn from Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs that apply to any kind of major decision I need to make.

First, check the Bible. Before I get anybody else’s perspective on what I’m going to do, I’ll need to go to the Word, and get God’s perspective. The Bible says in Proverbs 2:6-7, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest” (TEV).

Next, get the facts. Proverbs 18:13 says, “What a shame — yes, how stupid! — to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB) It is easy to get disillusioned and persuaded by my desires. It is important to fully check things out and not make a decision based on desires only.

Then, ask for advice. I need to talk to people who’ve made a similar decision and more importantly those who know my shape. They can help answer “Am I really shaped to do this or not? Is this me or is it not me?” Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without advice plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed” (GW).

One of the reasons I don’t usually ask for advice is I don’t always want to admit that I don’t know all the answers. However humility and wisdom go together. When I’m prideful and think I know it all, I’m more likely to fail. To make a wise decision and be successful, I need to first check the Bible, then research the facts, and finally ask advice from people who have experience and know my shape.

It’s important to make decisions based on my shape, as my gifting and passions make all the difference in how I will execute and live with the decision I’m making.  Given my recent move, it will be important for me to develop new relationships, ones who I can trust to give me advice about my job and work related matters.

I realize this morning that I’ve likely made some recent decisions without first looking at the word and getting advice.  I need to be sure that I’m using the full wisdom that God offers, beyond promptings, but with actual direction from his word confirmed with facts and advice of others.