Dealing With Indecision Series

Dealing With Indecision

(How To Make Wise Decisions)

Today we are continuing an in depth series on the book of James. Last week we looked at how we could have power over our problems. This week we are going to discover that God wants you to make wise decisions. Remember God wants us to grow up. God wants us to become mature Christians. He wants us to make wise decisions. As we grow more mature in Chirst we are to make decisions that are pleasing to Him.

As I said last week – the book of James is a very practical book. It could possibly be the most practical book in the Bible. It is a manual for Christian living. James starts out by giving practical advice right from the beginning of the book and continues through to the end. Let’s go ahead and read our text for today. It is found in James chapter one verses five through eight:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 (NKJV)

Life is full of choices and we make decisions every day. A wise man has said, “The decisions that we make – make us!” I believe this to be a true statement. As I look back on my own life – the decisions that I have made have had an immense impact on my life. So have yours. The quality and direction of your life has been determined by the decisions you have made. Some of them you regret – some of them you feel good about.

A young business man went to an older business man and was seeking advice – he asked, “What is the secret of success?” The older man replied, “Making wise decisions.” The young man then asked, “How can I learn to make wise decisions?” The older man replied, “From experience.” The young man then asked, “How do I get experience?” The older man answered, “From making dumb decisions.”

The fact is – we are all human and we have a great potential to make mistakes. In fact – we all make mistakes. We wait too long. We pay too much. We say the wrong thing. We open our mouths and insert our foot. All of us do stupid things. But the wise man learns from the mistakes he makes. I hope and pray that we all learn from our mistakes and that we can make better decisions next time.

In the book of James we have guidance on how to make wise decisions. James shows us the problem, then he gives us the prescription, followed by the promise. Let’s look at the problem first.

I. The Problem – INDECISION

Look at what James says in verse eight:

“…a double-minded man, (is) unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:8 (NKJV)

In the Greek the word for “doubled-minded” literally means to be “two spirited" – being pulled in different directions. When you are doubled-minded you have two loyalties – two priorities. You are being pulled in two directions at the same time. It causes confusion. It causes disorientation. It would be like a man standing next to a compass while having a magnet in his pocket. The compass wants to point to magnetic north – that is what it is designed to do – yet because of the magnet in his pocket the compass is pulled off course. The compass is set off course because it is being pulled in two directions at the same time and ends up someplace in between – not really pointing at either one.

Sometimes you have to make a decision but you’re pulled in different directions. Being double minded makes you unstable. You become confused. You become disoriented. It produces an unstable lifestyle. Eventually all your ways become unstable. That’s what James says:

“…a double-minded man, (is) unstable in all his ways.”

James 1:8 (NKJV)

Let me give you three areas that your ways become unstable. You have:

A. Unstable EMOTIONS

You worry when you can’t decide. You become confused. You can’t eat. You can’t sleep. You ask yourself, “What should I do? If I make this decision is it right – is it wrong?” Indecision creates emotional instability in your life. It’s like the guy who goes to the psychiatrist and the psychiatrist asks, “Are you indecisive?” The person answers, “Yes and no.” The psychiatrist asks, “What do you mean?” The guy answers, “I use to be – but now I can’t decide.” Indecision causes unstable emotions.