Happy New Year!
How the Choices In Your Decision Making can bring Glory to God
Did you know 90% of the choices you make as a Christian involve areas where Scripture says surprisingly little? The 
Bible doesn’t say anything about who to marry or what house to buy, how you spend your free time, how many kids you should have; there are just no explicit instructions in the Bible.
Of course Scripture forbids all clear-cut sins such as lying, cheating, stealing, murdering, or committing adultery. The Bible also tells us to live by faith and not by our circumstances. Christians don’t question whether they should read the Bible, pray, or tell others about Christ. Scripture is very explicit about those things.
There are, however, a lot of questions that seem to fall somewhere in the middle. These are all those issues dealing with Christian freedom—things that fall between what God prohibits and what He commands. What entertainment is acceptable? What kind of music is okay? What can a Christian do or not do on Sunday? What about what you wear, what you eat and drink, or how you spend your free time—what does the bible say about those things?
When you run your choices through the following principles from God’s Word, you will find both clarity and true freedom to live your life to God’s glory.
1. Will it help me spiritually? 1 Cor. 10:23
A “profitable” thing is useful, helpful, or to your advantage to do; and the idea behind “edify” is to build up spiritually. So based on this verse, ask yourself, “Will doing this enhance my spiritual life? Will it cultivate godliness? Will it build me up spiritually?” If not, you should seriously question whether that behavior is the best choice.
2. Will it bring bondage?1 Cor. 6:12
In the second part of this verse, Paul is saying, “I will not be brought under the power of anything.” If what you are considering can be habit-forming, why pursue it? Don’t allow yourself to be in bondage to anything or anyone. You are a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone.
3. Will it defile God’s temple?
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
Don’t do anything that you know will harm your body or bring shame—it is the only instrument you have to glorify God. Romans 6:13
4. Will it cause anyone to stumble? 1 Cor. 8:8-9
This is the principle of love. Rom.13:10 If you know that your choice—what you consider “in bounds” and approved—causes another Christian to stumble and sin, love that brother or sister enough to restrict your own freedom. That is not very popular in our self-absorbed society, but it is biblical.
5. Will it further the cause of evangelism? 1 Cor.10:32-33
Whether you are aware of it, what you allow or disallow in your behavior affects your witness for Christ, and the world is watching. It’s an issue of testimony—what your life says about God. Your testimony either tells the truth about God, or it tells a lie. The choices you make in areas where Scripture speaks principally rather than specifically should reflect your concern not to bring offense to God’s reputation but to bring Him praise instead.
6. Will it violate my conscience? Rom. 14:23
1Cor.10:25-29 contains three references to abstaining from a certain practice “for conscience sake.” Never train yourself to violate your conscience. If your conscience is troubled by what you consider, don’t do it. If you aren’t sure about it, don’t do it. It is hard to overstate the value of a clean conscience, but it is worth keeping your conscience clear so that your relationship to God will not be hindered. If you’ll keep yourself in prayer and the study of God’s Word, you will inform your conscience so you can “walk as children of light…finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” Eph. 5:8, 10
7. Will it bring glory to God? 1 Cor. 10:31
That verse is clearly both the summary and the goal of all the principles listed above. Isn’t our heart’s cry to glorify our Lord and Savior with our lives? Think about your decision—Will He be glorified, honored, and praised through it?
So the next time you face a decision where Scripture is less than specific or overt, run it through the principles above and enjoy your freedom in Christ. Happy New Year from The Choice Driven Life to You!
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