2 Tips to Ensure You Make Good Decisions

To reach our full potential, we must face and take risks wisely and make good decisions. The good news is that decision-making and wise risk-taking are skills that can be broken down and refined until you can excel at them.

Step 1: You've started by talking to God and inviting Him into the process.

Step 2: You calculated the risk using our Biblical Guide to Making Good Decisions

But you're still not sure what to do.

Here are two tips for what you should do next to make a good decision:

1. Put Others First

The most significant differentiator in every decision we make is the answer to the question, "Is this best for me, or is this best for others?"

Putting others first means asking, "If I make this decision, will my wife be better for it? Will my kids be better for it? Will my parents be better for it?" If it's a business decision, "Will my employees be better for it? Will my boss be better for it? Will my customers be better for it?"

"How will this impact others?" before asking, "How will this impact me?" "If I take this risk, who stands to win – me or others?"

In Philippians 2:3-8, Paul says, be like Jesus; think about others; don't just look out for your own interest; take an interest in others.

2. Swallow Your Pride

More often than not, putting our self-interest first is a strong caution that we’re making the wrong decision. One of the most common ways that self-interest shows itself is through pride.

Pride is the excessive belief in your abilities or thinking too highly of yourself. Pride is always thinking of yourself as being better than someone else.

It may be difficult to admit that you struggle with pride. The truth is that everyone struggles with pride.

James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."

Here are four warning signs that pride might be an issue and present in your life.

1. You notice chaos in all of your relationships.

2. You grow in your comfort with risks, even foolish or reckless risks.

3. The standard rules and procedures no longer apply to you.

4. You start to dismiss wise, constructive criticism.

Making good decisions and taking wise risks will help you reach your full potential. God calls us to do just that, but remember to put others first and swallow your pride in each decision.

Proverbs 2:6-8 says, “For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him."

To go even deeper on the content behind this article, check out the book, What Was I Thinking by David Ashcraft and Rob Skacel.

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