Should we second guess every decision we make in life?
Question: Recently, I was reading the Book of Proverbs when I stumbled across the 3rd chapter. In verses 5-6, it says we must “Trust God with all our hearts and to lean not on our understanding.” When it comes to this, I noted that certain Christian friends of mine have agonized over which choices are things God would approve of. Personally, I get a tad bit confused over this one as well, since at times I get the impression we should second-guess every decision we make in life. Any explanation would be helpful!
Response: I love your question and I love this text. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Notice that Solomon didn’t say “He will show you which way to go” but “He will make the path straight.” God has the power to move the earth beneath your feet. “Him” is not simply a map (“knowledge of good and evil”); “Him” is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; “Him” is the Word of God that creates and sustains all things; “Him” is not dead (like words on a page or laws in a book); “Him” is alive in you–Faith, Hope and Love in you.
When people believe that they are justified by obedience to law in the power of the flesh, they constantly need more knowledge of good and evil to know which way to go. But notice that they are still in control and still using knowledge of God as if he were dead.
The “law” is a description of the good, but “God alone is good,” said Jesus, and “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father,” and “Lo, I am with you always to the close of the age.”
When people have faith (trust)–and “apart from faith it is impossible to please God,” wrote Paul . . . when people have faith (trust) in a living person they don’t follow a map. They follow a presence or a voice. God is Love and Jesus is the Word of Love. All of Scripture testifies that the law is fulfilled in this one Word. I can’t judge love; Love must judge me. I don’t know if another person is loving or not loving. As a society we have laws to approximate love, but I can’t know the state of another person’s heart. I really can’t even know my own. At best I can be aware of moments that I’m focused on God and not myself or the benefit of others and not simply my own benefit. The only thing that makes an action good or bad according to Scripture is whether or not I’m trusting Love (God) in a given moment.
When I trust God, who is Love, I make decisions in Love, and then I’m on the right path–the Word of Love is literally the path. And ultimately I think Jesus is the one doing the trusting in me or with me for apart from him I can do nothing.
It’s ironic, but an obsession with justifying ourselves according to the knowledge of good and evil leads to the crucifixion of Christ–it was the religious folks, obsessed with justifying themselves, that took the Life of Christ on the tree in the garden. But it was Mary of Magdalene who first received his life risen from the dead–a sinner who had been known by Grace.
I wrote a book about this several years ago titled “Dance Lessons for Zombies.” Four years ago, I preached through that material again (but it was better this time). It’s all from the sermon on the Mount and the series was titled “The Living Law.” These are the Matthew sermons (and one Psalm Sermon to start the series) between 1-12-20 and 8-30-20.
I’m saying that ultimately, we can’t second guess our decisions for we’re rather incapable of judging anyone, including ourselves. However, we can submit ourselves to the Judgment, who is Christ, and who is always with us. In other words, we can simply say “Jesus help me.”
This is the way little children navigate. Once I came back from a mission trip on which my father accompanied me. My little daughter Rebekah came running up to me at the airport. I picked her up, gave her a big hug, and she exclaimed, “Oh Daddy, I was so worried that you might get lost but then I remembered that you were with your Daddy and so you couldn’t get lost.”
If you’re with your Daddy–“If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father” and “Lo, I am with you always”–then it’s impossible to be lost. It doesn’t matter whether or not you took a wrong turn in the past, you’re not lost if you’re with your Daddy. I’ve often thought that my “need” to know where I’ve been right or wrong is just idolatry of my own will (Self-righteousness) for I don’t trust that Jesus is the Way. And so, I repent of my lust for the tree of knowledge and thank God for the Life, who is with me.