Wisdom for Making Decisions

Every day we make decisions.

Some are small: what to eat, what to wear, where to go, what to purchase, what to say, and how to respond. Others are much bigger. Who should I marry? Should I take this job? How should I handle this conflict? What is best for my family? What is the Lord calling me to do?

We cannot avoid making decisions, but we can learn to make them wisely.

Proverbs 16:1-9 helps us understand the tension we all feel when making decisions. We are responsible to plan, think, pray, and act. But God is sovereign over it all. We make plans, but the Lord establishes our steps.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

So how can we make wise decisions?

1. Submit Your Plans to the Lord

It is not wrong to plan. Proverbs does not condemn planning. In fact, wise people tend to plan carefully.

But wise planning holds those plans loosely.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” That means we begin by placing our plans before God with open hands. We ask Him to lead us, correct us, stop us, or redirect us however He sees fit.

Before asking, “What do I want?” we should ask, “Lord, am I seeing this from Your point of view?”

God gets the final say. That should not frighten us. It should comfort us. He is good, wise, holy, and trustworthy.

2. Study Your Heart

Proverbs 16:2 says, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

We tend to assume our motives are better than they really are. We can convince ourselves that what we want is right simply because we want it badly enough.

That is why we need to study our hearts.

Before asking, “What should I do?” ask, “What do I want to do, and why?” Am I motivated by fear, pride, anger, comfort, greed, or selfish desire? Or am I truly seeking to please God and glorify Him?

Feelings matter, but feelings make terrible leaders. They are better at following than leading. Wise decisions require us to put our emotions in their proper place.

3. Sort Out the Facts

Proverbs 18:13 says, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”

Wise decision-making requires patience. We should not rush to conclusions before we have listened carefully, asked good questions, and considered the facts.

This is especially important when resolving conflict, making financial decisions, dealing with family matters, considering a job change, or working through difficult church decisions.

Sometimes the first story we hear sounds right until we hear more. Proverbs 18:17 reminds us that “the one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.”

So slow down. Listen. Investigate. Ask. Consider.

4. Seek Wise Counsel

Proverbs speaks often about the value of wise counsel.

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” — Proverbs 11:14

When making an important decision, form a team of people who love you enough to tell you the truth. Not people who will simply agree with you. Not people you can manipulate by giving them only half the facts. Wise counselors need the freedom to say what needs to be said.

Many people avoid wise counsel because they already know they are making an unwise decision. They isolate themselves because they do not want anyone to challenge them.

But wise counsel is a gift from God. Wise friends, parents, pastors, church members, and mature believers can help us see what we are missing.

5. See the Various Outcomes

Sometimes the hardest decisions are not between right and wrong, but between two good options.

That is when we need to consider where each road may lead.

Ask questions like: What will this choice produce six months from now? How will it affect my family? Will it strengthen or weaken my walk with Christ? Will this help bring peace, life, redemption, and faithfulness?

Proverbs 22:3 says, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”

Wise people look down the road. They do not simply ask what feels easiest right now. They ask where the decision will likely take them.

6. Settle Into God’s Purpose

After prayer, Scripture, careful thought, and wise counsel, there comes a point when we must act in faith.

We will not know everything in advance. If we did, there would be no need for faith.

Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

God has a purpose for your life. You were made to glorify Him, enjoy a right relationship with Him, and make Him known. As a church, we say it this way: we exist to praise the Lord, care for people, and advance the Kingdom according to Scripture.

The more mindful we are of God’s purposes in our decision-making, the wiser our decisions will be.

So whatever decision you are facing, pause long enough to walk through the process.

Submit your plans to the Lord. Study your heart. Sort out the facts. Seek wise counsel. See the various outcomes. Then settle into God’s purpose.

You can make your plans with open hands, trusting that the Lord will establish your steps.

You can watch this sermon in its entirety on our YouTube page.