Is It Wise?
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs 19:20
Insight
We’ve all had numerous people who gave us advice that went “in one ear and out the other.” To take this to another level, we’ve probably caught ourselves giving the same advice to someone else and as we hear it come out of our mouths we’ve realized that we don’t even heed what we’re saying. Our greatest regrets could’ve been avoided if we asked, “What is the wise thing to do?” and acted on our conclusions. If we would’ve sought wisdom, we could’ve spared ourselves years of chaos, brokenness, and hurt.
Yet, sometimes the decisions we face aren’t so clear. They don’t involve a matter of right or wrong. Rather than being black and white, the choice we make resides in a grey area. Our hearts don’t do too well with the shade of grey. We wrongly assume that if something isn’t illegal, unethical, or immoral, then it qualifies as a legitimate choice. We reason as long as there isn’t a law against it or there isn’t a Bible verse prohibiting it, then we are in the clear. But, not every decision is a moral decision.
If we can deem that something is not morally wrong, then we often conclude that it’s the right decision. We say things like, “there’s nothing wrong with going to dinner with her or one date with him….there’s nothing wrong with comparing ourselves to our friend’s post on Instagram…there’s nothing morally wrong with spending that much on a car lease.” It is true that there’s no law telling us it’s wrong to eat unlimited amounts of ice cream or wasting endless hours tuning into our favorite sitcom. Yet, this doesn’t make it wise to polish off a gallon of cookie dough ice cream while lounging on the couch binge-watching Netflix.
Sometimes the grey area has us facing choices that have more devastating effects than an upset stomach and tired eyes. We’re experts at rationalizing decisions that we know are wrong. No one is better at deceiving us than ourselves. We tell ourselves we can handle it, that it won’t hurt anybody and that we can quit when we want to. We’re well aware of the games we’re playing. And even if we’re not, the fact that we have to give a reason or excuse should tip us off.
We never have to rationalize good decisions like eating vegetables, exercising, saving money, or avoiding bad company. Asking, “Is it wise?” takes our issue out of the arena of right and wrong by entering it into the world of wisdom. This question leaves less room for rationalization. We all know from experience how easy it is to stumble. This is why we have to be careful about the decisions we make. We not only need to ask God for wisdom, but we must be proactive in surrounding ourselves with individuals who walk with integrity and provide insight. We also have to take it a step further and grant both parties access to speak into our situation and expose our hearts.
We all have a picture of our futures and what we want them to be. If we don’t ask what is wise, small decisions can train wreck the futures we’re imagining. By considering our past experiences, our present circumstances, and our future hopes and dreams, we create boundaries in our decision-making process.
Reflection
When making a wise decision we need to consider our past experiences, present circumstances, and future hopes and dreams. Of the three, which one do you tend to lose sight of when making decisions?
Prayer
God, give me wisdom and insight into the decisions I face. Help me to make choices that set me up to become the person I desire to be in the future. May I surround myself with others that are pursuing Your heart and who desire to reflect You in everything they do. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
