WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
In 2001, State Farm Insurance rated the most dangerous intersections for accidents in the United States. The top of the list was the corner of Flamingo Road & Pines Blvd. in Pembroke Pines FL. Over the 2 years of the study, 1999 - 2000, that intersection saw 357 accidents, averaging nearly 1 reported accident every 2 days.
Sometimes as we drive down the road of life, we come to dangerous intersections. We sometimes refer to these intersections as “forks in the road.” These are the times when the decisions we make can influence the rest of our trip. Do we stop or go? Do we turn right or left? Go ahead or turn back? Perhaps you feel you are at a dangerous intersection right now.
(Introduction idea from a sermon titled, "How to Deal with a Shortage of Wisdom" by Kelly Randolph at Sermoncentral.com)
What do you do at such times? How do you know the right thing to do? This morning I would like us to answer the question, “What do you do when you don’t know what to do!
Open your Bibles and turn with me please to Proverbs 1:1.
- Read Proverbs 1:1-7
I. CHECK WHO YOU’RE FOLLOWING
> Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (HCSB)
If you want wisdom, if you want the Lord’s guidance and wisdom when you make a decision, first check who you’re following.
This verse says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. God thought it was so important we got this concept that He repeated it again in Proverbs 9:10 where He said
> Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
> Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...
> Job 28:28 ... Look! The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom...
“Fear of the Lord” - the meaning includes worshipful submission, reverential awe, and obedient respect for God.
My friend, if you want to make the right choices, if you want to make the right decision, if you want help and direction when the big decisions come up, you start with making the right decision about a relationship with Jesus Christ. You start by making sure you are following the right leader.
> John 10:3 My sheep hear My voice, ...
* Ask, “Who did Jesus say, hears His voice?
* Answer - His sheep.
Jesus says it is His sheep, His followers, that hear His voice. If you want godly wisdom, if you want godly direction, if you want to make correct decisions, it starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Think of the many decisions you make each day, that are so important. How do you find the right balance between work and family? How do you find the right balance with your children between grace and discipline? How do you consistently make the kind of decisions that build your marriage and your home instead of tearing them down? How do you make the decisions that give you financial freedom instead of slavery? What do you do to help make this a godly country and community? Before everything else, you make sure you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. You make sure Who you’re following.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? ...
II. MAKE SURE YOU’RE OBEYING
> Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions have good insight. His praise endures forever.
I want you to underline the second phrase of the first sentence. “all who follow His instructions have good insight.” My friend, if you want God’s direction, if you want God’s wisdom in your life, then make sure you’re doing what He’s already told you.
It amazes me, the number of people who want God to show them what career path to follow, or what person to marry, or what house to buy, but who don’t want God to tell them how to live each day. Does that make any sense to you? Can you explain to me why you feel you can trust God with who you’re supposed to marry, but you can’t trust Him when He tells you what to do to make that marriage work. God, please show me what to do to make this a great marriage. God says, “Well, to start with, don’t fool around before you get married.” Aw God. I don’t want to hear that. And while you’re at it, don’t watch anything, or read anything, or look at anything on the internet that would make you think your spouse is less than beautiful. Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her ...
My friend, do what you already know is God’s will.
III. ASK FOR WISDOM
- James 1:5
The Bible says when you don’t know what to do, you should ask. Pray about it. It is amazing the number of people who always try to figure everything out without ever even asking God. They just turn to God when the decision they’ve already made goes south on them and they want some help.
> James 4:2 ... You do not have because you do not ask ... ...
IV. CHECK OUT THE HANDBOOK
> Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
David said that He found guidance, he found help in making decisions through God’s word. He found help in making decisions, in charting the path for his feet by reading and studying the Bible.
The Bible is God’s instruction manual for daily living. In this book we find guidance for how to treat our spouses. It talks about how often you are supposed to visit a friend if you want to keep them as a friend. It talks about how to escape debt. The Bible teaches how to get ahead on the job. It teaches us how to rear our children.
The Bible teaches us what we are to do to be good citizens. It talks about how we are to treat animals. The Bible teaches us how to respond to people who mistreat us, how to restore relationships, and what to do when those relationships cannot be restored. ...
What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Check Who you’re following, make sure you’re obeying, pray, check out the handbook and 5th, get godly counsel.
V. GET GODLY COUNSEL
> Proverbs 11:14 Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.
> Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisors they succeed.
God will direct, He will guide you and give you wisdom, but sometimes our emotions blind us to a situation. Or sometimes, when you are leading an organization or a group of people, God does give you a vision or a plan and you simply confuse the timing. Maybe God gave you the plan earlier than others so you could think on what He’s calling you to do. But, you get the timing confused and you run ahead before God’s also shared the vision with the team you’re leading. Listen my friend, if you get too far ahead, you can easily look like the enemy.
That’s why God gives us godly counselors. They help us see in our blind spots. They help us see the things we miss. ...
VI. TRUST THE ONE YOU’RE FOLLOWING
> Proverbs 3:6 think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. (HCSB)
When you have done that. When you have followed those steps, then make your decision and trust the Lord to direct you. If you are seeking to glorify Him, to please Him in all you do, then He promises to guide you on the right path. He promises to guide you correctly. ...
CONCLUSION - ... carpenter, skill I have, but common sense. That is a gift from God.
