Steps to Take Before Making a Major Decision

In review of Proverbs 2:6-7 it says, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest.”

Bottom Line:

Wisdom, knowledge and understanding come from the Lord, he provides help and protection to those who obey him and protects all of those who live as they should.

What this means to me:

God grants wisdom, knowledge and understanding. In my obedience to him, he provides the help and the protection I need,

When facing a tough decision about what to do with my job, I can look to the wealthiest businessman who ever lived, he wrote two books of the Bible, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and spread his wisdom about wealth and work.

There are three steps I can learn from Solomon’s wisdom in Proverbs that apply to any kind of major decision I need to make.

First, check the Bible. Before I get anybody else’s perspective on what I’m going to do, I’ll need to go to the Word, and get God’s perspective. The Bible says in Proverbs 2:6-7, “It is the LORD who gives wisdom; from him come knowledge and understanding. He provides help and protection for those who are righteous and honest” (TEV).

Next, get the facts. Proverbs 18:13 says, “What a shame — yes, how stupid! — to decide before knowing the facts!” (TLB) It is easy to get disillusioned and persuaded by my desires. It is important to fully check things out and not make a decision based on desires only.

Then, ask for advice. I need to talk to people who’ve made a similar decision and more importantly those who know my shape. They can help answer “Am I really shaped to do this or not? Is this me or is it not me?” Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without advice plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed” (GW).

One of the reasons I don’t usually ask for advice is I don’t always want to admit that I don’t know all the answers. However humility and wisdom go together. When I’m prideful and think I know it all, I’m more likely to fail. To make a wise decision and be successful, I need to first check the Bible, then research the facts, and finally ask advice from people who have experience and know my shape.

It’s important to make decisions based on my shape, as my gifting and passions make all the difference in how I will execute and live with the decision I’m making.  Given my recent move, it will be important for me to develop new relationships, ones who I can trust to give me advice about my job and work related matters.

I realize this morning that I’ve likely made some recent decisions without first looking at the word and getting advice.  I need to be sure that I’m using the full wisdom that God offers, beyond promptings, but with actual direction from his word confirmed with facts and advice of others.

Learning to Take a Step of Faith at Work

In review of Ecclesiastes 11:4 it says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.”

Bottom Line:

If you wait for things to be perfect, you’ll never get started.

What this means to me:

If I wait for conditions to be just right or wait for things to change, I’ll never end up moving forward or accomplishing things.

Rick Warren mentioned that In 2012 a world record was set when Felix Baumgartner took the highest leap ever attempted with a 24-mile-high free fall from space that broke the sound barrier. That seems like a giant step of faith!

At some point God will ask me to take a big step of faith as I do the things he created me to do. I’ll probably never be asked to take as big of a step as Baumgartner above, but it may feel like it when changing employment or where to live.

The Bible mentions in Ecclesiastes 11:4, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (TLB).

Rick Warren also mentions his friend, Mark Burnett, who is one of the most successful television producer in Hollywood today. He’s got top shows across several networks and created hits like “Survivor,” “Celebrity Apprentice,” and “The Voice.” He’s also a devout Christian.

When Rick asked Mark about stepping out in faith with an idea or something new, he told him this: “The fact that you don’t know exactly what to do is OK. I have a philosophy I call ‘jump in,’ which says that those who need to know with 100 percent certainty before going forward won’t do anything. You won’t get married, and you certainly won’t change jobs or start a business. I think it’s OK to be 30, 40, or 50 percent sure and figure out the rest of it. The philosophy of ‘jump in’ means that even if you’re not sure you can swim, swim anyway.”

So, given this if I wait to solve all the problems before I start, I’ll never get started. This is much like parenting; nobody knows how to be a parent! The Children come, and then you figure it out as you go. Likewise, I need to take a step of faith at some point in order to move toward what God means for me to do.

There is no guarantee on this earth that I’m going to succeed at anything. However when I step out in faith, trusting in God and pursuing his work for me through my shape, he promises me this in Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed.”

Today’s verse relates a lot to my work today and finding resources. I keep waiting to see what other candidates will come across, delaying my decisions. This delay has already affected me once with a resource taking another role by the time I came around to talking to them. While it’s important to wait, waiting too long or being paralyzed with fear about making a decision can be detrimental. I’ll just need to learn to consult with God more on my decisions at work and then move forward based on the promptings I receive from him.

God Is Watching How I Use My Shape

In review of Psalm 33:14-15 it says, “From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers. He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do.”

Bottom Line:

From his vantage point he observes our lives, he has shaped each of us for a purpose. Now he watches what we do with it.

What this means to me:

God gazes down upon me from his heavenly home. He has uniquely constructed me. He is closely watching what I do with what he provided me with.

God has wired me in a unique way and given me certain talents, and he’s watching to see how I use them. A key thing to consider is if I’m going to use my spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experience for myself, or will I use them for God and his purposes? Will I live for myself, or will I be making a contribution around me using my shape?

Psalm 33:14-15 says, “From where he sits he overlooks all us earth-dwellers. He has shaped each person in turn; now he watches everything we do” (MSG).

Its sobering to think that God is watching every single moment of my life. There is no moment of my life when God is not paying attention. God never says, “I’m bored with you. That’s not important. Or I’m going to change the channel.” God actually says, “Before you were born, I had you in my mind. I have never missed one breath of your life.”

One day, when my life on Earth ends and I go into eternity, I’m going to stand before God, and I’m going to give an account of how well I used what he gave me; the opportunities, the networks, the relationships, the mind, the talent, my shape. He’ll ask how did I use what he gave me?

This is very serious! Isaiah 44:21 says, “Take it seriously, Israel, that you’re my servant. I made you, shaped you: You’re my servant.”

What I’m learning is that this life is preparation for eternity. It is a test! My shape and how I use it is important because, how faithful I am now with what God has given me, will determine how much more he’ll give me in eternity.

The Bible points out that my role and rewards in Heaven will be based on how well I did with what I was given in this life. If I am faithful and make the most of what God gave me, he’s going to give me more. But if I don’t use what God has given me, it will be a tragic loss and hard to explain.

Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much .…  If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:10-12 NIV)

Today I will consider if I’m being a good steward of my shape. Are there areas I need to better utilize my shape?

I’m Shaped for a Life Mission

In review of Isaiah 43:21 it says, “I have formed these people for myself. They will praise me.”

Bottom Line:

God has formed us for himself so that we would sing his praises.

What this means to me:

I have been formed by God for his own purpose. I am to honor him by doing what he made me to do and to sing / displays his praises to those around me.

What I’m learning is that I am commissioned by God for a life mission and not just a task!

In Isaiah 49:5 it says, “And now the LORD speaks — the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me” (NLT)

My shape; which equates to my spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences all things God equips me for my life's mission and my life's message.

So what really is my life's mission? It’s my life’s work. It’s what God created me to do on this earth. The body of my life work is my life mission.

So what is really my life's message? It’s what God wants to say to the world through me. It’s unique. It’s my message from my life to the world.

Life’s message can not be given by someone else, because they are not me. Only I can determine my lifes message.  More importantly If I don’t give my life message to the world, it will never be heard.

When an artist accepts a commission, he makes a commitment to complete a certain task. Likewise, I have been commissioned by God to fulfill my mission and my message in the world. God has shaped me and given me the exact tools and traits that I need to complete my task, and when I use them to complete my mission, it will please Him.

In today’s passage from Isaiah 43:21, it says, “I have formed these people for myself. They will praise me” (GW).

How can I do that? How can I broadcast God’s praises with my life? By being who God made me to be.

When I use the gifts and abilities and personality and passion and experiences that God gave me that make me, me, that brings glory to God.

God has formed me with unique skills and abilities to do only what he can do through me.  In thinking through how God has shaped me thus far, I know I like leading small groups, teaching, passing on learning experiences, mentoring others and using my musical talent to help others worship. He has given me the ability to be a strong and trusted leader in the workplace. One who understands technology and can lead technology related efforts. Even more now, I’m learning a lot more about what it takes to lead individuals. These are all things that make me uniquely me.

Interestingly enough I’m sure there are things about my unique make up that I still don’t know. I likely have hidden talents that have not surfaced because I have not stretched myself.

So today I will consider how I’m using my shape in the workplace to do what God created me to do and say about him to the world around me.

Getting Out and Trying Something New

In review of Ecclesiastes 5:7 it says, “Dreaming instead of doing is foolishness, and there is ruin in a flood of empty words.”

Bottom Line:

Just dreaming about it but never doing anything is useless, empty words lead to ruin.

What this means to me:

It will never do me any good to just dream or talk about doing something, I need to set out and do it in respect and obedience to God.

In this world there are a lot of people who talk about their dream jobs, they have good intentions but never do it. What I’m learning is that there comes a time when you need to stop aiming and actually pull the trigger. I can’t wait for my ship to come in. It’s not, I’ll need to go and swim out to it.

This means instead of using excuses, I need to get out and try something.

I have to admit, that it would be much easier to take a little questionnaire where I can check off the boxes that will tell me exactly what God wants me to do. Thinking that it will reveal my dream job and life mission.

However, that questionnaire doesn’t exist. There may be some that seem similar, but it won’t work completely. This is because I have talents I don’t even know I have. The reason I don’t know is because I’ve never tried to use them.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 says, “Dreaming instead of doing is foolishness, and there is ruin in a flood of empty words” (TLB).

In summary dreaming without working is foolishness. Often I need to experiment and test until I figure out what God shaped me to do; my dream job. Then, get after it.

Today I need to what things I’ve been dreaming or thinking about but never doing anything about. I also need to consider how I’m using my current skills and talents to reach my potential.

God Uses Mistakes and Failures For My Good

In review of Galatians 3:4 it says, “Did all your experience mean nothing at all? Surely it meant something!”

Bottom Line:

Experiences matter, it is not just happenstance. They have their purpose.

What this means to me:

I have experienced so much, and it was not in vain. It helped to shape my life and my character.

I can learn a lot from my experiences; both good and bad. In order to apply them to my work, I have to go back over time and review, “Where was I successful and where was I not? Where was I fulfilled and where was I not? What got me excited about what I was doing?”

All of the lessons for my life are represented in my experiences; I just need to spend time examining them. However If I do, I’ll see that in every failure are the seeds of success, as long as I can learn from them.

Galatians 3:4 says, “Did all your experience mean nothing at all? Surely it meant something!” (GNT)

Rick Warren explained the story about a older gentleman he met who told me how getting laid off was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was 40 years old and had worked his entire life in a saw mill when his supervisor came in one day and told him he was fired; no severance, no retirement, nothing. He had no other skills, no other job training. When he went home and told his wife what happened, she said, “What are you going to do now?” He responded, “I guess I’m going to do what I’ve always wanted to do. I’m going to mortgage our home and go into the building business.”

His first venture was the construction of two small motels, but within five years, he was a multimillionaire. The man was named Wallace Johnson, the co-founder of the Holiday Inn hotel chain. At one point, it was one of the world’s largest hotel chains.

Wallace told Rick that if he could locate the man who fired him, he would thank him for what he had done. At the time, Wallace didn’t understand why he was fired. Only later could he see that it was God’s unerring and wondrous plan to get him fired in order to get him into the career he was shaped to do.

I know from my own past that God has taken me through an unexpected failure that I didn’t understand at the time, but now I see that it shaped me into who I am today. What I’m learning is that I need to trust that God will use my circumstances, good or bad, to show me what he shaped me to do and how he can use my life in service to him.

The failures in my past have helped lead to a directional change in my life. Had they not happened, I may be the same person I am today.  Also, I find that God never wastes any experience.  He uses them to train and shape my life and choices. I think one current failure that comes to mind right now is how I’m experiencing a high turnover of staff.  Some of this is just a thing of the times, the economy is getting better and their higher skill sets are being pursued by others. Some of this could be what I’m doing or able to do as a manager to recognize and reward them. In this case I can see what kind of proactive things I can do to help retain staff.  

In summary, God uses failures in my life to help teach me and keep me humble. Without failures I could probably become big-headed. Failures help remind me to keep my eyes on him for daily guidance and direction.

Learning How to Love Co-workers

In review of 1 Corinthians 16:14 it says, “Do everything with love.”

Bottom Line:

Do everything with love

What this means to me:

Whatever it is I do, I need to do it with love and kindness

What I’m learning is that one of the most important keys to receiving God’s favor on my work is: That I must care about the people I work with. Even when they are irritable, even when they don’t like me, even when they make fun of me, even when they put me down for being a Christian, I must still be a friend to them.

This is so important for overall success. It is an important lesson in life, and likely the number one reason God put me here on this earth. Learning how to love. God is love, and he wants me to be like him.

It’s easy to love the people I like, the people I find it easy to get along with. So if God’s going to really teach me real love, I need to realize that he’s going to put me around unlovely people.

The Bible says, “Do everything with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14 NLT, second edition). “Do everything” that means in the office, in the car, on a sales trip; whatever and whenever. The good news is this really is not hard. It’s easy to underestimate the power of a kind word, a friendly smile, a pat on the back, a genuine compliment, a word of encouragement, and a listening ear.

So many people’s lives can be changed when somebody takes time to pay attention to them. There is not a person on this planet who isn’t starving for attention. But a caring person is hard to find. The Apostle Paul had said, “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare” (Philippians 2:20).

People need affirmation, attention, and affection. I need to learn to care about the people I work with and show them God’s love.

“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love” (Ephesians 4:2 TLB).

This morning It really strikes a chord with me as I think how I might be able to change and influence relationships, especially if everything I did was done with love. Simple acts of just paying attention to them, smiling, speaking kind words or just listening. Part of the heart attitudes I had adopted for my life while part of a congregation in Southern California is based on Philippians 2:3-4, which is simply stated as “put the goals and interests of others above my own.” I need to remember to continue practice this at my new work location. Today I will consider who could use my affirmation at work in the coming days.