Let’s get this out of the way early—organizational leaders don’t always make the right decisions. For over 30 years, I have held leadership roles in non-profit, military, and private businesses. I have daily faced the need to make decisions in areas of vision, program, finance, human resources, development, legal, and more. I would love to look back and declare that I hit the mark for every decision. But that would not be true. While many were sound decisions, there were times when the flesh, the Enemy, busyness, and a lack of connection with the Holy Spirit clouded my judgment.
Many organizational leaders are visionaries, dreamers, and impatient. That’s right, I said impatiently. Most want to see their dreams for significant impact happen within very short timelines. This way, they can dream and cast more visions. Some view this as the essence of good leadership—casting visions and continuous growth. However, biblical principles of stewardship and decision-making can become an afterthought with this mindset. Statements like, “God will provide,” or “God will work it out,” are tossed around. Decisions are made quickly without available funding or that shift an already approved and prayed-over strategy into a different direction. At times those concerned about stewardship can be classified as having less faith or even as pessimists!
But what if God doesn’t provide or confirm a leader’s decision?
Imagine looking back and realizing a decision led to financial debt. It may have resulted in an unfruitful ministry or even distracted us from our core mission. God may see stewardship as a practical expression of our love for Him, demonstrated through our obedience to His commandments and principles.
Scriptures remind us that “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). So, all of our decisions must be rooted in faith. This can mean deciding to move forward before the tangible provision or confirmation shows up. It could lead us in a new direction. But in this case, we must clearly hear the Lord’s voice calling us forward. Without that confirmation from the Lord, we must stay true to the principles He has revealed through His Word.
Leaders can quickly cross the line from faith to presumption. Merriam-Webster defines presumption in two ways. It is a belief that something is true even though it has not been proven. It is also a willingness to do something without the right or permission to do it. When making tough decisions, we might presume on God by choosing what we want. Then, we expect God to show up and honor that decision. The Hebrew word for presumption is zed, which can be translated as “arrogant, proud, insolent, or presumptuous.” It’s scary to think that our personal pride and arrogance could be the motivation behind certain decisions. Psalm 19:13 shares, “Also keep back your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression.”
How do we respond when we realize we made the wrong decision?
Admit we are Wrong
Pride can prevent us from circling back and reflecting on what we have learned as leaders and in our decision-making. When we walk humbly in the Spirit He can overcome this pride supernaturally through us and move us to admit our mistakes and share the lessons learned with those we lead. This response will produce respect and will demonstrate the teachable attitude we want to see in others. Luke 6:31 reminds us, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.”
Don’t Spiritualize Bad Decisions
There are leaders who rarely (or never) admit their mistakes. They even go as far as spiritualizing their decisions or the outcome as God’s will. I’ve witnessed poor stewardship decisions being justified as doing the right thing or taking the high road. This often happens because of a fear to say the hard things, hold others accountable, or simply not knowing how to say no. God doesn’t make mistakes. Yet we can certainly misunderstand. Rather than spiritualize them and deflect them as God’s sovereignty, we should own them and take personal responsibility.
Take Corrective Action
During pilot training, students are taught a precept known as the 1 in 60 rule. The idea is that for every one degree off course you are over 60 nautical miles, you will be one mile off course from your original destination. When flying, it’s important to take corrective action immediately to hit the desired destination. Likewise, when leading organizations, we must also take corrective action when we get off course. When we do so, it demonstrates true humility while getting us back on track to our intended goals and destination. Proverbs 15:32 states, “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.”
When godly leaders make a wrong decision that takes an organization or church off course. We must admit that mistake, take personal responsibility, and then take corrective action immediately to ensure we reach our desired destination.
How do we make God-honoring decisions?
The Bible does not offer a checklist or a step-by-step process for every decision we face in life; however, it does offer us principles we can follow to ensure that we make God-honoring decisions. These are principles I was taught and modeled early in life by godly leaders and have kept me on track and allowed me to honor God and witness His confirmation in relational decisions, financial decisions, career transitions, marriage, fatherhood, and as an organizational leader.
1. Alignment with God’s Word
God graciously left us a written record of His commandments, principles, and promises. He also provided multiple examples of real people who experienced both blessing and discipline for their obedience that we can learn from. Personally, I have had times where I struggled to hear from God or when the Holy Spirit was silent on an issue or even gave me several choices that aligned with His will. When this is the case we must always filter our decisions through biblical commands, principles, and God’s promises.
David was a strong leader for the nation of Israel, and he shares in Psalm 119:103-105, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Dr. Wes Wilmer reminds us in A Revolution in Generosity that, “15 percent of God’s Word (2,172 verses) deals with possessions—treasures hidden in a field, pearls, talents, pounds, stables, etc. Most likely this topic is covered so thoroughly in Scripture because God knew His followers would struggle with how to use possessions. Given this emphasis from God, Christians need to seriously consider how their faith and their finances are related.”
2. Inner witness of the Holy Spirit
Listening and obeying the Holy Spirit are the most important principles in biblical decision-making, but they can also be the most difficult. Scripture offers many examples of those in relationship with Christ who are led by the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. Luke shares, “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:11-12). In Acts we read of Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch, “The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and walk along beside the carriage’” (Acts 8:29).
God speaks to us through prayer! Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ is foundational to experience this level of intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is simply an ongoing communication with God. As we lead organizations we must heed Ephesians 6:18 and “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion,” as well as Philippians 4:6, which encourages us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6). As we pray, ask, listen to, and obey the Holy Spirit, we will ensure our decisions align with the will of God.
3. Inner Peace
Peace should both precede and proceed our decisions. Philippians 4:7 shares, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” I have missed this over the years with hiring decisions. Rather than not hiring someone, I assumed that we could train or mold someone into a strong team member. I will confess that it’s never worked. I’ve learned that if I don’t have peace, I need to either wait or avoid that decision altogether and wait on God to reveal a clear direction that provides the peace He promises.
4. Harmony among believers
Matthew 18:19-20 shares, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” We should seek agreement with one or more committed Christ followers when making decisions. This can be a spouse, a co-worker, a mentor, or a trusted friend. It will vary based on the context of the decision we are facing and who is impacted by that respective decision. If all are earnestly seeking the Lord and His will, then we will find a harmony before and after decisions are made.
5. Input from Godly Counsel
In business, we conduct market research, hold strategy sessions, and focus groups. The purpose is to identify a collective response or decision about a particular problem or opportunity. Most organizations have a governing board that also provides oversight. Proverbs 11:14 states, “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.” Later in Proverbs 15:22, we see that “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.” We must seek out other godly leaders and get their input before making decisions. When faced with tough decisions, I personally like to consult with two or three other leaders in similar roles. God uses others to point out things we may not see or have not thought about so that we can make a fully informed decision.
Pursue all Five Principles
When possible, pursue all five principles because leadership and decision-making are far better within the context of biblical community. It’s especially important when our decisions affect others. God uses biblical community to help us lead and to make good decisions. It is often said that no man is an island. That is especially true when it comes to making challenging leadership decisions that honor the Lord and accomplish His will. Those times when we are alone and have to make tough decisions, we can always rest on the first and second principles to guide us safely.
What is the result?
If Christian leaders apply these principles, they will see the Lord’s confirmation and blessing and accomplish His will when faced with difficult decisions. We may see His confirmation before a decision is made, along the way, or in retrospect after the decision has been made. God’s confirmation and blessing can take many forms, so we are not guaranteed success as the world defines success. However, we will accomplish His will and lead our organizations where He wants them to go.
As those we lead witness God’s confirmation upon our decision-making processes, a tremendous trust will be built that is foundational to any successful organization. While Moses faced many challenges leading the people of Israel out of Egypt, it was his relationship with God, willingness to obey, and God’s confirmation on those decisions that influenced the Israelites to move in the direction God had intended so that His perfect will might be accomplished.