The Freedom to Choose
It is not uncommon to find Christians who have become preoccupied with knowing God's will. For such people, God's "will" is sought and found in every conceivable circumstance. But while seeking the will of God is an essential part of our daily existence, so too is understanding when we have reached a point of freedom.
For some, it would seem heretical to suggest that God might not have a specific will for every circumstance in life. Note that the key word here is "every." Clearly, the Bible teaches that God has an expressed will pertaining to certain matters. For example, Peter tells us that God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9b, NKJV). As we discussed last week, God often appears to have an expressed will for decisions we might otherwise deem "small" or "insignificant." But can we conclude that God has an expressed will in every situation?
Think back to Adam in the Garden of Eden:
Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. (Genesis 2:19-20a)
Did you catch that? God brought the beasts of the field and the birds of the air to Adam "to see what he would name them." Adam was not called to prayer and fasting so as to determine the "proper" name for each animal. God granted Adam the freedom to choose names. It's not hard to imagine the joy that an earthly father might have in giving his child an animal (be it stuffed or real) and watching his little boy or girl chose a name for it. Here we see that God enjoyed this same experience as the Father of all creation.
Throughout the Bible we see God allowing individuals to make decisions. Clearly, God reluctantly gives us the freedom to rebel in our decisions if we so choose (Ezekiel 18:31-32). But does He also give us the freedom to make "good" decisions on our own? Or is the path of true spirituality one in which we are constantly asking God for specific guidance in every decision we make. This is not an easy question to answer. Indeed, God has an overall will for our lives, first that we believe in His son (John 3:16, cf. 6:28-29), and secondly that we be conformed to His Son's likeness (Romans 8:29). God may or may not have an expressed will for what career we choose, what school we attend, or what car we buy. We should not place God in the position where we expect Him to make our daily decisions for us. But neither should we place ourselves in a position where we ignore His will. If our desire is for God's "will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10), the onus is on us to seek it.
Major decisions can often be overwhelming at times, leading one to think that the best decision is no decision. Our tendency is to "wait on God," until we can be absolutely confident of His will. Such waiting can be important, as we discussed previously, when we lack enough information to make a prudent choice. But it is important to recognize that not making a decision is making a decision. There is no difference between making no decision and making a decision to delay or postpone. The Philosopher reminds us that:
Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
In short, the Philosopher says "don't wait!" There is rarely a "perfect time" to do what needs to be done. If you know what needs to be done but are waiting for that "right opportunity," you may well be waiting in vain. Paul taught that "a man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7), but here we see an even more basic truth--only those who sow will reap! The longer you wait to plant, the longer you wait to reap.
So where does this leave us? Clearly we don't want to overlook God's leading and mistakenly conclude that we have reached a point of freedom. But neither do we want to agonize over decisions and fail to enjoy the freedoms that are ours in Christ (Galatians 5:1). The question that we began our study with is the question that now remains: how then can we know the will of God for a given situation?
It would seem that what we really need is a practical approach to our decision-making that encompasses the key points we have been studying. As we attempt to summarize the last seven weeks of study, then, let's try to develop a "filter" through which we can pass the decisions and dilemmas of our daily life. I think it all boils down to four questions:
Having passed through these four "filters" in our decision-making process I think one can conclude that they have reached a point of freedom. Freedom to make a choice. Freedom to trust that God will make the path straight (Proverbs 3:5), and if necessary, reverse our direction if we have indeed made a wrong decision. But freedom nonetheless to move ahead.
Freedom can be a difficult luxury at times. We might well prefer to simply be told what to do and how to do it. But we need freedom--both to succeed and to fail. Only then can we grow. The Philosopher encourages us to take risks with our freedom:
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
In ancient times, those who dealt in seaborne trade took great risks. For them, they might as well have literally cast their bread into the sea. For them, the risks were great--but so were the rewards. The image here is striking, and the message is clear--don't always play it safe! This is not a call to irresponsible or reckless living, but rather to one of opportunity and reward. Every decision carries with it a certain degree of risk. And sooner or later we will suffer the consequences of having risked and lost. But nevertheless, the Philosopher encourages us to continue taking chances.
When we reach a point of freedom in our decisions, sometimes we may find ourselves faced with a decision that involves risk. And indeed, prudence may often demand that we "play it safe." But how tragic that we should squander freedom given us by God because of the self-imposed confines of our own comfort and familiarity.
In reaching a point of freedom, we reach a point of opportunity. May we all make the most of those opportunities to the glory of God!
Copyright © 1998 Tim A. Krell. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.