How to Know God's Will for Your LifeSample

Two heads are better than one

Not all decisions are of equal value. If you make a wrong decision about whether to wear a black blouse or a blue one, the consequences of being wrong are minimal. Or if you decide to invest in the Big Returns Bank or the Great Profit Bank, the outcome is unlikely to vary much.

If, however, you decide to build a house on a flood plain rather than on a rock plateau, the mistake could prove calamitous.

One of the best ways to prevent making mistakes in seeking to do God’s will is to consult wisely. The Proverb writer puts it well:

·Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14).

·Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed...In abundance of counsellors there is victory (Proverbs 15:22; 24:6).

In practical terms, it is obvious we can’t consult everyone. A simple, relevant biblical principle covers this: ‘In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established.

This instruction occurs first in Deuteronomy 17:6 where the Mosaic law said that no one could be put to death without the testimony of two or three witnesses. Later, the same rule was applied before convicting anyone of any offence (Deuteronomy 19:15; Hebrews 10:28). A single witness was not enough. This was a wise way of ensuring that justice would be done in the courts.

Jesus said that if a charge was to be laid against anyone in a church, two or three witnesses must be found and that when two or three come together in reconciliation, he is there present with them (Matthew 18:18-20; see also 2 Corinthians 13:1).

In seeking to discover and put into practice the will of God, consultation is critical.

In plain terms, there is an important principle: the greater the damage that will be done if we are wrong, the greater the need for consultation to get it right.

Personally, throughout my ministry life, I have tried to work in a team, and whenever it comes to making major decisions or plans, no matter how strongly I feel, I try to consult at least three people.

Sometimes this means going outside your immediate circle to ensure that your consultants are impartial and objective. You need people who will not hesitate to tell you if they think you are wrong. Friends and loved ones, on the other hand, may find it difficult not to let feelings get in the way.

I may also say that as an author, I regularly invite several people to read and review my writings before they are published. I have been blessed by helpful and often strong suggestions that have improved my work beyond measure.

God uses people in guiding us in our desire to do all the will of God. The value of consultation is hard to over-estimate.

What next?

·Prayerfully compile a list of several people whom you respect and trust and whom you could consult when necessary.

Memorise Proverbs 15:22 (including the reference).