Problem SolvingSample

Making the Right Decisions

Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” - I Kgs 18:21, 

As leaders we are required to make decisions in every sphere of our life, every day – whether it is the workplace, our homes or while we are out with friends. One of the key steps in problem solving is evaluating alternatives and making a decision. According to Albert Camus, ‘life is the sum of all your choices’. In an increasingly complex world, the number of choices we make every day keeps growing with each passing day. We simply cannot avoid making decisions. In fact, indecision is a decision in itself.

But not all decisions are equal. The more complex a problem, the more difficult it is to pick the right alternative and the stakes are higher. However, if pleasing God is more important than pleasing man, our decision-making process becomes simpler. Consider Elijah’s exhortation to the people of Israel when he said, How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.

So how do we go about making decisions? The process of decision-making often determines the quality of decisions we make. Here is a five-step process for decision-making which guarantees choosing the best alternative each and every time:

Pray. Nehemiah did that every time he faced a problem (Neh 1:4)

Fear God. Job feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:8)

Read the Scripture. God’s Word leads us in the right path (Ps 119:105)

Seek Advice. A wise man asks others for advice (Pro 18:15)

Seek Wisdom. Ask God for wisdom (Jas 1:5)

Why is this discipline of decision-making so important? It is important because our decisions determine outcomes. The higher the level of authority of the decision maker, the greater will be the impact of the outcomes of his or her decisions. Doing the right thing, rather than choosing what is most convenient to us implies that we are answerable to a higher authority for every decision we make.

Lord, help me make the right decisions today and every day. Amen