Three questions to help you make good decisions (10 mins.)
Does the decision I am about to make show that I trust in Jehovah’s guidance?
Our greatest happiness truly comes from serving Jehovah. We have the example of a servant of Jehovah whose happiness was to make Jehovah happy. However, it seems that under certain circumstances he was seeking something different.
We're talking about Baruch, Jeremiah's secretary. He apparently forgot that true happiness consisted in serving Jehovah. But something happened to Baruch: there came a time when he was no longer enjoying his sacred service. So Jehovah said to him:
“You keep seeking great things for yourself. Stop seeking, for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, and I will surely give you your soul as plunder in all the places you go.”
Brothers and sisters, let's ask ourselves: What do you think about this passage? What would have made Baruch happier: pursuing great things for himself or surviving the destruction of Jerusalem by being a faithful servant of God? That's something we can reflect on.
Exactly the same thing happens in modern times. A brother who is happy serving others is named Ramiro, and he says the following:
“I come from a poor family in a small town in the Andes Mountains. So, when my older brother offered to pay for my college tuition, it was a great opportunity. But I had recently been baptized and had received another offer. A pioneer had invited me to preach with him in a small town.
I went there, learned to cut hair, and opened a barbershop to support myself. Many people gratefully accepted our invitation to study the Bible. Later, I joined a newly formed congregation where an indigenous language was spoken.
After 10 years in full-time service, I know that no other activity could give me the joy that helping people understand the good news in their own language brings me.”
How interesting this is, brothers!
That is why the question is: Do our decisions show that we trust in Jehovah's guidance?
LET'S READ PROVERBS 16:3, 20
“Leave everything you do in the Lord’s hands, and your plans will succeed. 20 He who is shrewd in his plan will succeed, and he who trusts in the Lord will be happy.”
Therefore, let our decisions demonstrate that we truly trust in Jehovah.
Will Jehovah be happy with what I decide?
There are many situations in which we have to make decisions. For example, as shown in the image, you may have to decide whether or not to attend a certain party. Of course, the invitation came from siblings.
However, upon further investigation, it turns out that there may not be adequate supervision at that party. Or maybe there was, but perhaps they were people known for their immaturity.
What could this lead to?
Have you noticed that alcoholic drinks are served at some parties?
Have you noticed that some parties end at inappropriate times?
Have you noticed that at certain festivals many people dress in a manner that is not appropriate for a servant of Jehovah?
So what decision are you going to make?
What decision are you going to make about whether to study or not?
What decision will you make about whether a job is appropriate or not?
What will you decide if you have a certain number of activities to do, but these might prevent you from serving Jehovah completely?
The key question is: What are you going to decide?
LET'S READ PROVERBS 16:7
“When the Lord is pleased with a man’s ways, he makes even his enemies at peace with him.”
So the question is: Will Jehovah be pleased with what I decide? If the answer is yes, then we will be well protected, because, as the proverb says, even our enemies will be at peace with us.
Am I allowing what others say and do to influence me too much?
It's clear that our upbringing and our environment profoundly influence all of us. That's obvious. For example, we dress a certain way, like certain foods, and behave in a particular way. This is due, in part, to the influence of those around us and our personal circumstances.
Now, there are aspects of life that are far more important than simply the foods we like or our lifestyle. The Bible mentions that our preferences may even be dictated by the dictates of our conscience.
Of course, it's true that dress is important, especially for a Christian, but there are things that are even more important. The dictates of our conscience influence the decisions we make. The Bible recognizes that, often, "those of nations without law do by nature the things of the law."
But does that mean that, as long as there's no specific divine law prohibiting something, we can follow the customs and norms we learned as children or that are common in the place where we live? Of course not.
In the Bible we find at least two important reasons why this would not be appropriate for a Christian.
The first one is this:
LET'S READ PROVERBS 16:25
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
It's like the picture: a certain store designer might say that's the current trend. But you might prefer something more modest, more in keeping with what you've learned from Jehovah.
The question is: Is there a specific law that dictates how we should dress? Probably not directly. But then, what are you going to do? Will you follow what you think, what others say, or will you let Jehovah guide you?
Let's remember what we just discussed: we normally think there is a straight path. But if that path is based solely on our own point of view or the opinions of others, it will surely lead to death. Because of our imperfection, we lack the ability to guide our steps without making mistakes.
The second reason is that Satan, “the god of this system of things,” is the one who sets the standards of the world. Note that, just as he offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world, a fashion designer could do something similar, for example, by saying, “This is what the world has, this way you'll look better.”
But the real question is: What do you really want?
Follow what others say? What your conscience tells you? Or what your conscience, trained by Jehovah, tells you?
It would be important for us to think about this, because we will surely have to make decisions that must be based on a conscience trained by the Bible.
So when the question arises, "Am I letting what others say and do influence me too much? Is that right?"
The caption in the image reads: “How can these questions help me make good decisions about my dress and grooming?”
Without a doubt, the three questions we discussed can help us with this. But if we are allowing others to influence what we do, let's keep in mind what we saw in relation to Proverbs 16:25.
Don't let the path someone else suggests, or the one you yourself consider right, lead you to death. Rather, let your conscience, trained by the Scriptures, guide you to the best decision, so that you can praise Jehovah with your words and deeds.
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