Indecision
Indecision is defined as reluctance or an inability to make up one’s mind. Confusion in the mind is usually the natural consequence of a vacillating spirit. People need wisdom to discover the way to live, for to shift between two paths is foolishness. A clear purpose is necessary to the spiritual success of the Christian.
The Lord created humans with free will. And He invites all, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). God lays before His children life and death and invites them to choose life, but He does not interfere with their wrong choices, nor does He protect them from its natural consequences because this will not be right.
On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah challenged King Ahab, the prophets of Baal, and the Israelites, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21). The Israelites stood at the crossroads. They had to take a stand rather than being in the valley of indecision.
In the New Testament, Jesus taught the same truth: “no one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). To try to worship God with a divided heart is to practice indecision. The Christian religion cannot accept the role of being one direction among many. Its influence must be chief and must control all the other aspects of life.
A person who adopts indecision in his life is “a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). His mind is torn between the earthly pleasures and full devotion to God. In Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan identified this kind of person as Mr. Facing-both-ways. The “double minded” man possesses two “souls” that are tormented by indecision. He wavers between belief and unbelief, whereas the man with the one purpose does not waver at all.
Divine Wisdom for Making Decisions
The apostle James says, “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” (James 1:5 also Proverbs 4:7). And he hastens to give a condition for asking for wisdom, “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” (verse 6). Without faith, there will be no blessing. “Let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7).
Because of the complications of life and the many paths in which the evil one may suggest his deceptive ideas, it is necessary to obtain daily messages from the Lord. This is gained by a prayerful and purposeful reading of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15). The Word of God is the true guide for making decisions (2 Timothy 3:16; John 17:17).
The Scriptures light up the way so that people may walk safely in the spiritual darkness of this world. The Psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” He who has this light to guide him need not fall even though his way may be surrounded with evil (2 Peter 1:19).
The Lord promised that He will help deliver His children from indecision, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8). The believer must be continually led by God. He must learn the divine will in every matter, otherwise he will not be able to see Satan in his disguise.
The Christian who listens to God’s voice in His Word, who purposes in his mind that he will do nothing in any line that will dishonor His heavenly Father, will clearly see just what path to pursue in any matter. He will not be plagued by indecision. He will be like the man that build his house on the rocks (Matthew 7:24–27).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
