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FAITH.010
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1992-10-03
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FAITH PRINCIPLES No.10.
DECISION MAKING
INDECISIVENESS
The ability to make a decision and carry it through is an important
part of living by faith. Many people will try to avoid making
decisions, hoping that things will turn out right in any case.
However we are required to make decisions that are vital in many
areas of our life. The choice of our marriage partner is not
something that one can drift into and expect a proper relationship.
The choice of career or training are important areas of decision
making. There are other countless areas where our success depends
not only on the quality of our decision, but the very ability to
make definite choices.
A prevalent attitude of modern society is that if we don't take a
definite position we can't be shown wrong. This philosophy
promotes leadership by consensus instead of conviction and is
really a cop-out. It is an attempt to avoid responsibility.
In the realm of faith there are constant challenges in our
believing God that necessitate a definite decision.
Moses faced this level of choice when he grew up and realising his
destiny "refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God" - Heb.
11:24-25. Both Elijah and Jesus called for definite decision - 1
Kings 18:21 and Mark 10:21.
FAITH VERSUS FEAR
Fear and indecisiveness are closely related. One is the cause and
the other is the effect - in any order. Either the person who is
fearful will postpone or seek to avoid making a decision, or the
very act of being indecisive will cause fear to rise in that
person.
Procrastination is said to be the thief of time, but it is much
more than that. It is actually the fear of making a decision.
Most people have problems that could be avoided because certain of
these "problems" exist because decisions which needed to be
courageously made have been postponed or avoided.
THE POWER OF COMMITMENT
The word "commitment" does not appear in the King James Version of
the Bible, but in each area where it is applicable the word for
"believe" is used instead. To truly believe in Christ we must put
our whole weight upon Him without reserve. This is commitment and
it releases a positive power within us. True faith seeks no "back
door escape". It is prepared to be committed to a cause of action
and burns its bridges behind it.
Both marriage and walking on water are commitments that are
activated by definite decisions. In a true commitment to either
experience there is no way back. Bertrand Russell was asked if he
was prepared to die for his beliefs. "Of course not," he replied,
"after all, I may be wrong!"
It is this level of decision making which allows faith to achieve
its greatest triumphs in us. Instability is often manifested in
indecisiveness and destroys our faith. James 1: 6-8 declares that
the wavering double-minded man shall not receive anything from the
Lord.
Elijah challenged Israel to quit halting between two opinions and
to commit themselves to one way or the other - 1 Kings 18:21
It was this instability in the face of temptation which cost Rueben
his birthright. The Bible says he was unstable as water - Gen.
49:3-4. He was wishywashy about evil. He was indecisive about his
options in regard to his father's concubine and had made no
commitment to avoid this sin of immorality. In the identical
circumstances (Gen. 39:7-8), his brother Joseph held to his
stedfast commitment whatever the cost and was eventually exalted
and received the double portion inheritance which had belonged to
Rueben, ie both his sons received a tribal inheritance in Israel.
The prophecy of Isaiah regarding the Messiah was that He would
refuse the evil and choose the good. Is. 7:14-15.
DECISIONS RELEASE FAITH
Because decisions establish our commitment to a course of action,
we can only know the reality of the situation after the decision is
made. No-one really knows what marriage will be like until after
the irrevocable commitment is made.
Torre Egge in the Himalayan mountain range is thought by many
mountaineers to be the most difficult peak to climb in the world.
The men who conquered it a few years ago said of their dash to the
top, "There comes a point where commitment and not reason dictates
reality".
Faith is manifested by an action necessitating a prior decision.
Faith doesn't just happen in our lives. It is released by our
commitment.
While there must always be a counting of the cost before a decision
is made (Luke 14:28), this does not in itself dictate the decision.
At this point faith assesses all the facts and while not ignoring
them seeks to transcend their limitations by drawing on the power
and ability of God to do what naturally cannot be done. When a
rhema has been planted in our heart by God, there is an essential
necessity to commit ourselves to it regardless of the obstacles and
it is this very decision which enables God to bring about His best
for us.
In every area of life we must practice being decisive and deal with
the habits and fears that cause us to procrastinate decisions.
This will assist us in making definite decisions of faith when
without warning those challenges are thrust upon us.