Decision Making

In life we often have to make decision, for example decision to which school we would like to attend, which faculty we would like to take, or decision to relocate. Decision making can be regarded as the cognitive process resulting in the selection of a course of action among several alternative scenarios. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion of choice.

Basic principal in making Christian ethics decision is based on will and faith unto God which we have to apply in decision making in every matter in our life ( Jeremiah 29 : 11 ==> For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future )

The aim of it is to warn us that we have to think and consider every details from every aspect wisely and smartly before we take action, and how to act according to God’s will which He said through bible. The ethics decision that we take influence our life, in present and in future.

We cannot change our past, but we can change our future with what we decide today.

The following are the basics in making decision :

1. Love

Every actions that we do must be based and be reasoned on love, to God and to human. Love to God must be done with all our heart, soul, and mind ( Matthew 22 : 37 ). Love to God is expressed in loving our neighbor, who must be loved as we love ourselves. This means in making decision we should consider whether the decision that we make, has been based on God’s word or not. Don’t let decisions we’ve made, make our relationship far from God.

2. Faith

In action, in doing something, or in making decision must be based on faith to God. Faith is a gift from God so that we believe in Jesus Christ, that He shall help us in every difficult situation we face. Faith leads us to believe that if  we involve God, asking His guidance and thinking over the risks in every aspects carefully before we take decision, then the decision we’ve made is good and it’s the best, though unpredictable problems sometimes appear in the future. We must put our trust in Him to facing it. Remember God always sustains us. Even though we fall down, but it’s not till sprawled ( Psalm 37 : 23 – 24 ).

3. Motive

Motive influences act of a person. Motive which underlies our action, is hidden in our very deepest heart and another person don’t know about it, but God knows. Therefore, we must have good motivation before we act, motivation that are sincere, honest and true. If the reason of the motivation is to get benefit, reputation, what people might said, or other bad motivation, then the ethic decision we made is totally wrong.

4. Asking Holy Spirit’s Wisdom and Guidance

Holy Spirit is our savior that lives in our heart. If we pray and ask, Holy Spirit shall give us guidance and wisdom so that we don’t take wrong action or make bad ethic decision in our daily life.

5. Set Priority Scale

Taking ethic decision needs discreetness in life. Live wisely means knowing certainly what is important in life. This matter influences our success in life, now or in the future. We divide the priority scale in few level :

• Most important
• Important
• Less important
• Not important

Matters That Are Needed in Making Decision

1. Take enough time to pray to God for asking His wisdom.

Decision that we take in a hurry, is obviously unwise, but decision that is considered carefully bring peace in the future. However, take enough time doesn’t mean stalling the time. Sometimes we have to make decision for something which is really important, and the wise action we should take is to decide it as soon as possible. The decision also must logic. Unnecessary procrastination can bring loss to ourselves and another person.  It also can be an unwise decision.

2. Considering long-term consequences.

A few decision may have significant consequences. We have to think before what risks shall be happened. Be aware for not let short-term benefit attractiveness blind us to see clearly the long-term consequences that we don’t wish ( Proverb 22 : 3 ==> The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty ).

3. Getting facts about the conclusion and advises from people.

We should better discuss about the decision that we have considered with people who are close with us or people who we think, are competent to give advises, such as parents, siblings, best friends. With doing this, we will get another view from them, get input about matters which we forget or miss, also get advises which is we need it indeed, so that we don’t make wrong in making decision.

4. Thinking whether the decision we are going to make is good and fair for another people.

Sometimes the decision we have made is good and fair for our selves but not for another people. If we don’t pay attention for this, decision we decide will become unwise decision which could lead to losses in both parties.

5. Thinking about the impact for us, people and environment.

All decision we made bring impact for us, another people and environment, whether it is negative or positive.

How if in the future we think the decision we made seems wrong ?

Thing we must remember always is God can use every circumstances and situation to show His power and love, even wrong decision can be used by Him to bring goodness for us. Failure can turn to be success in God’s powerful hand ( Rome 8 : 28 ==> And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose ).

What we can do is pray to God, ask strength from Him and face it with full of joy, because that was decision we have made. We can not turn back time to change what we’ve decide, so the only thing to solve the problem is face what has became our decision.

Don’t blame ourselves for decision we’ve taken. Blaming ourselves can make the situation getting worse. It’s better to find solution to solve the problem.

CONCLUSION :

* Making decision is needed and it’s very important in life for bright future.

* Making decision must be based on love unto God and human, faith and good motive. Moreover, we must ask help and guidance from Holy Spirit and set the priority scale for wise decision.

* In making decision needs careful consideration. Taking time to consider the consequences and think about the impact for ourselves and another people is also needed. Beside it, input, advises and facts from another person also become our consideration.

* If our decision seems wrong, thing we must do is pray, ask strength from God and face it, because God use our every life situation to realize God’s beautiful and glorious plan. Remember that every decision we made is good.

Waiting hurts, forgetting hurts, but not knowing which decision to take can sometimes be the most painful.