A Helper In Making Personal Decisions

The Bible is a product of holy spirit. Thus, when we allow ourselves to be persuaded by the Bible, it is as though the holy spirit were instructing us. (2Timothy 3:16, 17) It can help us to make wise decisions. But do we let it?

What about our choice of occupation or employment? Holy spirit will enable us to view a prospective job from Jehovah's standpoint. Our employment must harmonize with Bible principles, and preferably it ought to help us persue theocratic goals. The salary or the prominence and prestige connected with a job are truly of lesser importance. More significant is whether it provides is with the necessities of life and allows us sufficient time and opportunity to fulfill our Christian obligations.

A desire to enjoy life is normal and proper. (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 11:9) So a balanced Christian may pursue recreation for refreshment and for enjoyment. But he ought to choose recreation that reflects the spirit's fruitage, no the kind that features the "the works of the flesh." Paul explains: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct,idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries and things like these." Becoming "egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another" are also to be avoided. -Galatians 5:16-26.

It is similar with regard to choosing friends. It is wise to choose them according to spirituality, not according to outward appearance or possessions. The man David was obviously God's friend, for God described him as being "a man agreeable to [his] heart." (Acts 13:22) ignoring outward appearance, God chose David to be king of Israel, according to the principle: " Not the way man sees is the way God sees, because mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is." - 1 Samuel 16:7.

Thousands of friendships have faltered because they were based on outward appearance or on possessions. Friendships based on uncertain riches can end suddenly. (Proverbs 14:20) God's spirit-inspired Word advises us that when choosing friends, we should pick those who can assist us to serve Jehovah. It tells us to concentrate on giving rather than receiving because giving brings even greater joy. (Acts 20:35) Time and affection are among the most precious things we can give our friends.

To a Christian seeking a marriage mate, the Bible provides spirit-inspired advice. In a way, it says: ' Look beyond the face and the figure. Look at the feet.' The feet? Yes, in this sense: Are they being used to carry out Jehovah's work of preaching the good news, and are they thus comely, as it were in his sight? Are they shod with the message of truth and the good news of peace? We read: "How comely upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, the one publishing peace, the one bringing good news of something better, the one publishing salvation, the one saying to Zion: ' Your God has become King!' " - Isaiah 52:7; Ephesians 6:15.

Living as we do in "critical times hard to deal with," we need help in doing God's will. (2 Timothy 3:1) The helper, God's holy spirit, gave powerful support to the work of Christians in the first century, including being their personal helper. Diligently studying God's Word, a product of holy spirit, is a prime way that we too can make the holy spirit our personal helper. Have we?