Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 88 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.
10 Principles to Make Wise Decisions (1)
Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 88 of our Trek. We have just finished up exploring the 7 principles that enable you to put more life in your years. Today we are starting on a new trail, and we will be stopping by 10 waypoints along our path over the next few days, which will assist us in making wise decisions.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is day four of our Anniversary Week #36. Today Paula and I went to Mountwood Park in West Virginia. We started with a nice picnic, went for an hour long paddle boat ride, and then hiked about 4 miles. With temperatures in the low 70s it was perfect weather for our outing for today. It was a real blessing to get outside again to enjoy being with each other and God’s creation.
Since we work from home almost every day, one challenge with a staycation this week has been to stop after we complete some required work each morning and break for our planned activities. I have to admit that I love to work and enjoy just about everything that I have ever done in my career. This is partly due to my genetic make-up, my upbringing on the farm, and the values that were instilled in me from an early age. I would also say that a primary reason that I have loved just about every work environment is because I have chosen to like it. I enjoy learning, growing, and providing value to others.
Every day each of us is faced with numerous choices, which require us to make decisions. Our objective in producing Wisdom-Trek is not just to help you make decisions, but to teach you to make wise decisions, and to make legacy-creating decisions.
Wisdom is an attribute that we should all strive for in our lives. As mentioned before, I personally rely on the Bible, which I consider to be God’s Word, as my basis and foundation for wisdom.
Gaining wisdom is not unlike establishing other good habits in our lives, whether those habits are eating properly, staying physically fit, or learning some new skill. We perfect those habits by properly practicing them each day. In the same manner, the more that we make wise decisions, the wiser we will become, and the easier it will be to make wise decisions in the future.
While the Bible, other literature, and information we study do not address every decision that we will face each day specifically, there are principles in the Bible and elsewhere that help us to foster a wise decision-making matrix within our lives. The question that we are all faced with is what should we do when the Bible doesn’t seem to speak directly to the situations we face and the decisions we need to make?
On our Trek today and for the next few days, we will stop by 10 waypoints that will help us to make wise decisions when there are not clear commands, guidelines, or direction. Because of my faith walk, I will base our discussions of decision-making on Biblical principles. If you happen to have a different basis for your value system, these points will still apply to your decision-making process.
Our first waypoint question is:
1. What are the principles that should form my decision-making matrix?
We first need to understand where wisdom ultimately comes from. Although there are many wise individuals from whom we can glean practical sage advice, when you look for the basis of this wisdom, it is rooted in the Bible. God has blessed certain individuals with the gift of presenting this wisdom in ways that help us to understand it better. Based on this premise, we acknowledge and understand that God is the ultimate source of that wisdom as is described in these verses.
Proverbs 2:6, “For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Now that we understand where true wisdom comes from, we need to determine some basic guidelines for making decisions. What is the eventual purpose for any decision that we need to make? Many decisions that we make may have multiple purposes, and we need to determine what they are. The final conclusion of all decisions that we make, whether they are large or small, should be to bring glory to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
When making decisions on business partners, financial partners, or a marriage partner, we need to be very careful who we associate with, especially if the partner(s) will exercise some control over our decision-making process. All partnering on life’s trek should only be done only with those individuals that share our same values and beliefs, otherwise there is potential for conflict that impacts our values, beliefs, and, ultimately, our integrity.
2 Corinthians 6:14, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?”
Proverbs 22:7, “Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.”
When making decisions, the outcomes should always be honorable and right. Do not make decisions that are contrary to your values.
Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
The preliminary questions that you need to ask as you are forming your decision-making matrix are:
- Does the Bible have a clear direction on this, or does it conform to the guidelines listed above?
- Who do I consider wise and knowledgeable that can help me better understand what God’s Word says about this decision?
- Am I making a decision that is contrary to what wise counsel has recommended?
2. Do I have all the facts about the decision that I am making?
When you need to make a decision and you have processed through the first step, then make sure that you have all the facts needed to make a wise decision. I realize that you could become too anal and never make a decision due to paralysis by analysis, but you should not be too hasty to decide until you have all the facts needed.
Proverbs 18:13, “Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.”
Proverbs 18:17, “The first to speak in court sounds right — until the cross-examination begins.”
Questions to consider when determining if you have all the facts:
- Have I asked enough of the appropriate questions for this decision?
- Have I fallen prey to “wishful thinking” or let my emotions get the best of me?
- Have I remembered that there are two sides to every story and considered all possibilities?
Consider these first two waypoints in your decision-making process in order to make wise decisions and join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will continue on the trail as we explore the 10 principles for making wise decisions.
Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.
If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage each of you to take the time to invest yourself.
- Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
- Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
- Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.
Thank you!
The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.
Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.
As we take this Trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!