PASTORAL THEOLOGY

LECTURE 34

WISDOM IN DECISION MAKING

The following is an excerpt of an article by David W. Cloud:

“"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" (1 Kings 3:9).

Shortly after Solomon assumed the throne as Israel's king, the Bible says: "In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee." (1 Kings 3:5). Now, if any one was ever handed a blank check as far as prayer is concerned, it was Solomon on this occasion. He was invited to ask for absolutely anything, and promised by God Himself that his request would he granted. Solomon's prayer is recorded in verses 6-9: "And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"

Solomon recognized that the greatest think he could ever ask for was ‘wisdom’; he realized his position and the great responsibility it called for. This is precisely the situation that exists with pastors or anyone else who holds a God-given place of leadership over His people. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." Hebrews 13:17 says: "obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account..." As pastors, we need to remind ourselves every day that we will soon give an accounting to the One Who counted us faithful and put us into the ministry. See 1 Timothy 1:12.

The church you pastor is really His "flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Solomon was deeply conscious -- profoundly conscious -- of the awesome nature of the responsibility involved in leading God's people. Are you?

Solomon was conscious of the ability he lacked to lead the Lord's people. He said, "I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." (Solomon was 40 years old at the time he ascended the throne). He recognized that the leadership of God's people is beyond the ability of any man "For who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" (vv. 7,9).

And so, Solomon assessed the awesomeness of the work involved in leading the people of God, leadership that would have ramifications not just for time, but for eternity as well, and he thought about the accounting he would have to give personally to the Lord. He thought about all of this, and realized that he needed ability beyond anything he was capable of himself So he prayed: "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad" (2 Kings 3:9).

God was delighted with the prayer that Solomon prayed. He was so pleased with the choice that Solomon made, that in verses 10 through 14 we read: "And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days." [end of Cloud’s quotes]

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS…

Webster defines discernment as "the ability to separate and make a difference; to discriminate, distinguish and make a difference; insightfulness, acumen and good judgment." Oh to have godly discernment for every decision that comes your way. There are just so many decisions that a Pastor will be needing to make on any given week!

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Decisions, decisions, decisions…so many decisions to make every month, every week, every day, as a Pastor. Here are just a sampling of the general areas that decisions might need to be made in

on a weekly basis:

Preaching, teaching, teachers, assistants, music, standards, treasury, evangelism, buildings, children’s, missions, events, cleaning, grounds, van, jail, nursing home, printing, college, library, widows, multi-media, special events.

Here are some areas that I, as a pastor, typically make important decisions in several times throughout the year:

Building remodel, upgrades, new; Van upkeep, new; Missionaries to invite and support; Church tracts; other churches’ fellowships, etc., to attend; treasury budgets; Lord’s Supper; church sponsored special events; ministry worker changes; evangelism generalized strategy; potential new members; discernment of God’s call in a man’s life; and many others.

Here are some decisions that I, as a pastor, typically am faced with on any given week or so:

What to preach; what to teach; college modifications; website changes; multi-media fixes; arranging van rides; wise counsel to give to several members; what visitors to meet with or contact; what wayward members to encourage; church related supplies to buy; whether or not to attend a certain special event; etc.

DO YOU WANT MORE WISDOM FOR THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE FACING YOU?

Just how wise do you think you should be, Pastor?

1 Kings 4:29-34 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

A Pastor needs to eat lots of strong meat from the Word of God. He also needs to use it on a regular basis (excercised). The goal is to be able to better discern between good and evil (error).

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

If you ask God for more wisdom for a certain decision facing you, and you fully trust in Him for the answer, then it shall be given you.

HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS

Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

The goal in the decision making ultimately rests on understanding what the will of the Lord is. This is mainly done by prayer, meditation on God’s word, and experience.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

The battle becomes ‘our will’ vs. God’s will; we need to be like Jesus Christ was…seeking His Father’s will and laying aside His own.

1 Cor 2:14-16 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The Pastor is a spiritual man and is more than capable of judging all things. Through the Holy Spirit and the word of God we actually possess the mind of Christ. A true God-called Pastor needs to rest confident that His Lord will give him the correct judgment for the decision that he is facing.

Prov 18:1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

How much do you desire to make the right decision, decision after decision? How devoted are you to this most noble task? How do you separate yourself from the world’s way of thinking? How much time do you spend intermeddling with the decision making process?

THEY ARE ALL RELYING ON YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION…

2 Sam 14:17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee.

Your beloved flock is looking to you to be like an angel of God; to always make the right godly decisions.

1 Kings 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

When the church folk recognize God’s power upon you in giving you wisdom to do judgment, they will have a healthy respect and fear for you as their Pastor.

Wouldn’t it be great to have wisdom like this?!

1Ki 4:34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

1 Kings 10:24 And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

DON’T TRUST YOURSELF

Prov 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Just because you are a ‘Pastor’, doesn’t mean that you are ‘all-knowing’ and never make a mistake. You are still a sinner that has to battle his flesh as every other saved sinner does. It is so very important dear Pastor not to operate like you may have used to in the past; cease from thine own wisdom!

1 Cor 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Figure that you aren’t really that smart or wise; figure that your decision is probably not the right one. Don’t be over-confident in that you are such a good decision maker, dear Pastor.

Prov 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

There are so many important decisions that you as a Pastor will be making and it is imperitive for you to get real close to the Lord and have great trust in Him. You must not trust your own understanding; don’t figure that you are ‘probably right’ with your way of thinking about such and such. Fear the Lord; seek His counsel; in all thy decisions, ask Him to direct thy paths!

Prov 15:21-22 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

You might be destitute of wisdom in certain areas; get wise counsel from others…from other pastors, and even from some of the wise men of your church. Don’t fly solo (so low).

DON’T FOLLOW THE TYPICAL CORPORATE MODEL FOR DECISION MAKING

1 Cor 3:18-19 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Our minds as Pastors can be just as affected by this old world’s philosophy as anyone else. We tend to by default think this way. Don’t follow the larger, more ‘successful’ church’s philosophies on decision making: how will it increase our numbers? we all need to be one? sin is all relative. need to have an elder board presiding. go ask the deacon board. go ask the board of directors….

Isa 56:10-11 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

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