Balancing Humility and Biblical Discernment in Decision Making
Balancing Humility and Biblical Discernment in Decision Making
Humility is a fundamental Christian virtue that involves a willingness to submit to God's will and acknowledge one's limitations [1]. In decision-making, humility is essential for balancing personal judgment with biblical discernment. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, humility is necessary for serving God and is exemplified in Christ's life and teachings [2].
The Bible emphasizes the importance of humility in various passages. For instance, Romans 12:3 advises believers not to think too highly of themselves but to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith [6]. Similarly, Psalm 119:7 expresses a desire to learn God's judgments with an upright heart [4]. In Deuteronomy 17:8, the Israelites are instructed to seek guidance from the priests and judges in difficult cases, demonstrating the value of seeking wisdom and discernment.
In making decisions, Christians are encouraged to seek God's guidance and wisdom. Psalm 75:2 states, "When I choose a time, I will judge fairly" [3], highlighting God's sovereignty in decision-making. Torrey's Topical Textbook also notes that decision-making is necessary for serving God and involves seeking God with the heart, keeping His commandments, and following Him fully [5].
The balance between humility and biblical discernment is crucial in decision-making. While humility involves acknowledging one's limitations, biblical discernment requires applying God's Word to specific situations. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, the biblical account of Moses' decision to choose affliction with God's people rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season demonstrates a deliberate and informed choice, rather than a hasty impulse [7].
In the view of Reformed theologians like Calvin, the pursuit of wisdom and discernment is a lifelong endeavor that involves soberly and calmly reviewing God's doctrines [9]. Matthew Henry's commentary on Ecclesiastes 9:1 suggests that seeking to understand God's work can lead to valuable discoveries and insights, even if the search is not exhaustive [8].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Psalms “Psalms 75:2 (BSB) — “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.”
- Psalms “Psalms 119:7 (BBE) — I will give you praise with an upright heart in learning your right decisions.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Decision — Necessary to the service of God -- Lu 9:62. Exhortations to -- Jos 24:14,15. Exhibited in Seeking God with the heart. -- 2Ch 15:12. Keeping the commandments of God. -- Ne 10:29. Being on the Lord's side. -- Ex 32:26. Following God fully. -- Nu 14:24; 32:12; Jos 14:8. Serving God. -- Isa 56:6. Loving God perfectly. -- De 6:5. Blessedness of. -- Jos 1:7. Opposed to A divided service. -- Mt 6:24. Double-mindedness. -- Jas 1:8. Halting between two opinions. -- 1Ki 18:21. Turning to the right or left. -- De 5:32. Not setting the heart aright. -- Ps 78:8,37. Exe”
- Romans “Romans 12:3 (NASB) — For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 11:25: He balanced the best of the world with the worst of religion, and decidedly chose the latter. "Choosing" implies a deliberate resolution, not a hasty impulse. He was forty years old, a time when the judgment is matured. for a season--If the world has "pleasure" (Greek, "enjoyment") to offer, it is but "for a season." If religion bring with it "affliction," it too is but for a season; whereas its "pleasures are for evermore."”
- Ecclesiastes (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 9:1: It has been observed concerning those who have pretended to search for the philosophers' stone that, though they could never find what they sought for, yet in the search they have hit upon many other useful discoveries and experiments. Thus Solomon, when, in the close of the foregoing chapter, he applied his heart to know the work of God, and took a great deal of pains to search into it, though he despaired of finding it out, yet he found out that which abundantly recompensed him for the search, and gave him some satisfaction, which he here gives us; for ther”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Harmony of the Law, Vol. 1, section 1.6: these particular Books, which must have been very congenial to him. It was not unnatural that he should take pleasure in soberly and calmly reviewing those doctrines which had so largely exercised his earlier thoughts, and that the distinctive tenets, which are usually associated with his name, and which, as the Article of the Church of England testifies, are “full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ,” should once more pass before him in his latter days,”