Decisions
Stars were still hanging high in the sky when thought forcibly drove sleep away. It was one of those moments that brings a long journey to an end. Where it all began has long been forgotten. All the pieces of the puzzle cannot be connected. Yet, it was a journey with a single thread.
One of the common experiences of my life is to share with other pastors that their struggles are common. The challenges of being a pastor have different descriptions, but the passions of people are the same. Passions for good or evil are common without regard to race, culture or country. Thus, the purpose of this article is to address a matter that has long perplexed this pastor. Remember, whatever happens to me also happens to every pastor, in some form or degree.
Folks say: "I have made a decision." They may even say: "I have prayerfully made a decision."
However, THE DECISION TO MAKE A DECISION IS NOT A DECISION. AND, EVEN IF A DECISION IS MADE, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO ACT UPON THE DECISION.
After 30 years of pastoring it came together in a moment to understand the flaw that can be made in decision making. But before we proceed, let us go back just a little to underscore a critical flaw in the DECISION TO MAKE A DECISION.
The Bible is clear that "safety is in a multitude of counselors" (Proverbs 11:14). Wise people seek wise counsel before making value decisions that can affect friendships, relationships, a church body, family, and one's own personal testimony and witness of Jesus.
Wise people seek wise counsel. This means that wise people seek counsel of those who are mature and seasoned in the Lord -- proven saints -- saints walking in harmony with the church body; saints who have charted a course of being in harmony and unity; saints who have demonstrated that they think bigger than their own selfish needs.
Wise people seek counsel of those who know more than they know and those who are willing to be painfully truthful. A friend is an excavator. Once we were standing together looking at a project requiring a lot of earthmoving. I made an observation. He did not say that it was a foolish observation, though I gathered he was not impressed. What he did say was, "Harold, why don't you leave moving dirt to me, and you stick with preaching." It was good advice.
Through the years I have on occasion listened to someone say, "Pastor Bare, I have made a prayerful decision to ..." Yes, it did occur to me how they came to a prayerful decision of such major importance without consultation and prayer with pastoral staff or spiritual elders. Yes, I did quietly question why they had not submitted themselves to spiritual leaders in honest soul-searching as to whether their own life needed spiritual repair.
Yes, it did occur to me to ask if they had been faithful in prayer, Bible reading, serving, stewardship of tithes and offerings, and witnessing to lost persons.
Wisdom has taught me to understand that when a person says, "I have prayerfully made a decision," it is a manifest attempt to take away the right of others to argue with the decision. A decision has been made in the heart, not head. The heart has made a decision without consultation with the head. Emotions have ruled the day, without logic or counsel.
Jesus talked about a king going to war being careful to measure the strength of the other army and a builder beginning a project without knowing if there is money to finish paying.
Decision-making is an art of logic and faith, bound in prayer. Prayer is the focus of asking God for counsel. Prayer brings the heart under submission. Prayer humbles pride. Prayer opens the mind to counsel that may be painful. Prayer brings us to a willingness to ask others, "Is there anything about my life that you think I should change to be more pleasing to Jesus?" Prayer asks God for wisdom to choose right counselors that will bring us to the most productive future possible as servants of Our Lord.
If we are making a God-inspired journey about decision making, there is a process:
1. We feel restlessness in our life.
2. We know something needs to change.
3. We realize the first step is a right heart.
4. We submit ourselves to God and others to insure that our heart and motives are pure.
5. We correct what needs to be corrected.
6. We seek counsel from godly leaders about the future.
7. We sense a decision must be made.
8. We proceed with caution knowing that we are tenderly in the hands of the Lord.
9. We gather information needed for the decision.
10. We process the information with counselors and our respected leaders who have watched over our souls.
11. We make a decision.
12. We now move to the next step: Implementation.
13. We make a decision to act upon the decision.
a. Special counsel and prayer.
b. Patience to evaluate all the variables.
c. Evaluation of timing, e.g., a decision to sell a home does not mean that it should be put on the market in the coldest part of winter.
d. A plan evolves that is respected by those who have given godly counsel.
The process of making a decision has been carefully followed. The Lord is with you. No future regrets. No tearing of godly relationships. What must be done must first of all meet the approval of Jesus and be edifying to His Church. The goal is to act in a manner that will bring honor and glory to Our Lord.
Well, the sun has come up as I finish. Hopefully, you will think a lot about this letter from a pastor who cares. My heart is with you in prayer that you will be a wise and godly decision maker.
For His Kingdom and Your Salvation, I remain
Prayerfully yours,
Pastor Bare
James 1:5