Permissible or Beneficial? Thoughts on Biblical Decision-Making

The words streamed from my headphones into my ears. I wanted to talk back and ask the podcast host questions. What do you mean by that phrase? Why would we let our experiences speak louder than God’s truth? Can you help me understand what you’re thinking?

The episode came to a close, and I laid down my broom. I was sweeping up sand that had hitched a ride on little feet and traveled from our outdoor sandbox to my bathroom tile.

I replayed her words in my mind trying to find the logical crack in an idea that already felt wrong in my gut.

She spoke to me about God and how He’s helping me become the person He intended. The spiritual practice she prescribed isn’t blatantly wrong or damaging. If I can’t put my finger on the reason for my unease, could it be that my gut reacted too quickly? Maybe there’s nothing wrong with these ideas after all.

Choosing in Freedom

I bent to sweep the grains of sand into my dust pan when God reminded me of the words He inspired in Paul:

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.”

1 Corinthians 10:23

My Bible study note tells me Paul is probably quoting a common saying in Corinth, one that leans heavily on our freedom from the law purchased by Christ’s death and resurrection. 

The verses that follow this one give instruction on rejecting immoral behavior. Paul’s words lead me to believe that the Corinthians are using their freedom in Christ to excuse sinful patterns.

But as I sit with this verse, I see wisdom that helps us discern not only wrong from right but neutral from right. Each day is a series of decisions, big and small. Sometimes we decide between wrong and right, but I find more often I’m deciding between two (or more) options that aren’t wrong. 

• Should I sweep up this sand or make a grocery list?
• Do I join that Bible study group for moms or leave a little more white space on my calendar?
• Maybe I need to begin focusing my work on offering editing services instead of continuing to write?

When we have the freedom to make these choices, Paul’s framework urges us to prioritize that which is helpful and that which builds up. Considering those words can bring clarity into the haze of decision-making.

Time is Short

As I tucked my broom back into the entry closet, God tapped me on the shoulder with another word:

The appointed time has grown very short….For the present form of this world is passing away….I say this for your own benefit…to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 7:29, 31, 35

And this is why discernment in our decision-making matters. On this side of eternity, our time is limited. Will we spend it pursuing what we know has lasting value—a life in service to God’s people and in obedience to His Word—or merely circling around truth, masking self-serving acts with a veil of spirituality?

What I initially considered to be my “gut” telling me to avoid the ideas I heard in my podcast, I now recognized as the Spirit’s guidance. While I can’t qualify the ideas and spiritual practice described by the host as inherently wrong, I began to see that they are wrong for me, for right now.

Thinking these thoughts, I absent-mindedly opened the door and called my kids inside for an hour of quiet time. They tromped upstairs to wash their hands and then alerted me to a fresh, fine blanket of sand covering the floor.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, seeing another choice before me. I certainly have the freedom to let the sand stay where it fell. I’m the grownup here after all. But today I’ll be a help to myself and my family and sweep it away once more.

May God sift our thoughts like sand, sweeping away distractions and refining what remains.

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*Featured photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash