SCRIPTURE
“In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So, a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there…when she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughter's in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah…” Ruth 1: 1-2,6-7
SPOTLIGHT
What type of decision-maker are you? Do you usually make good decisions or bad ones?
When a person is young, decision-making comes easily because it is limited to choosing between McDonald’s, or Chuck E. Cheese. As a person grows older, the decisions have greater consequences because there are more choices. There have been many brides, or grooms, who have run away at the last moment for a variety of reasons.
One of the most beautiful love stories in the Bible is found in the book of Ruth. As we study the characters, they teach us a great deal about good decision-making. We learn guidelines that a person can follow to make wise decisions. Two principles are learned in the first few verses of Chapter 1. Consider them as you evaluate your daily decision-making.
#1. Good decision-making never excludes God. Unfortunately, this is how the story began. Godly people eliminated God from a very important decision. There was a famine in the land. Elimelek and Naomi emigrated to the heathen, immoral nation of Moab. They believed this was the best for their family's survival. They were desperate, but that is no excuse for not asking God for His guidance. Unfortunately, they left Him out and paid a high price of pain. Good decision-making always includes God. When God is excluded from a person’s decisions, many wrong things follow that wrong decision. Proverbs 3:7 states, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” Romans 8:6 states, “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Someone said, “No matter how difficult the circumstances may be, the only place for God’s people is in the will of God.” When a person seeks satisfaction without desiring God’s guidance, he/she may pay a terrible price. Someone else said, “Better to starve in the will of God, then to eat the enemy’s bread.” Samson excluded God which ended up in him losing his power to defend himself from his enemies. Don’t forget how the children of Israel ended up wandering in the desert for 40 years because they excluded God from their decisions.
Good decision-making never excludes God. Instead, good decision-making always includes God. James 1:5 states, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Psalm 111:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have a good understanding.” When you leave the decision to God, He always chooses the best for you.
#2. Good decision-making always concludes there can be a fresh start. Naomi is not only a good example of making a wrong decision but also a good example of making a right one. Husbandless and childless, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. She decided to once again include God. Naomi recognized her wrong decision, which led to her making the right decision.
There is always time to start afresh. Never let yourself decide that it is too late to pick up the broken pieces. Never decide that your life is too much of a mess to be fixed. Never preclude that God will not forgive and receive you back. Naomi believed God would forgive and welcome her back. God is always willing to forgive the backslider and restore him to His favor. It is never too late to ask God for a fresh start.
Too many people live their present life in the failures of the past. God wants to take your failures and thrust you forward. Fail forward by including God again in your decision-making. Wrong decisions can lead to the right decisions. An error can lead to success. Learn from your mistakes. The first lesson you should learn is that you can start over again. God is inviting you to. This decision will be in God and should lead you to obey God. Right decision-making should lead you to repentance and faith. Samson learned this lesson and once again experienced the power of strength to overpower his enemies.
SOMETHING TO DO
Evaluate how you make decisions. Think it over.
#1. What steps do you take when making a decision? Do you always include God?
#2. What steps do you take when you have made a bad decision? Do you stubbornly try to make it work? How quickly do you ask God for forgiveness because you excluded Him? Then, how quick do you ask Him to guide you in correcting the poor decision that you made?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You authored the Bible and Your Word says that “In whom [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” [Colossians 2:3]. From this day forward, I am asking You to fill my mind and heart, with Your wisdom and knowledge, so that I will make good decisions. AMEN.