A husband and wife, prior to marriage, decided that he would make all the major decisions and she the minor ones. After 25 years of marriage, the husband was asked how this arrangement had worked. “Great,” he said. “In all these years, I've never had to make a major decision.

Got a decision you need to make? A decision concerning one of your children? A decision about your job or career? A decision about money or marriage?
Some decisions we make are easy, like what to wear or what to cook for supper. Other decisions are more difficult. Should I change jobs? Should we refinance our home? Should I marry this person?

When making decisions you have to get it right. Here's why.

Quality decision-making isn't so easy today. For one thing, we have more decisions to make. We live in a world of an amazing number of options and choices for just about everything. If you don't believe it, just check out all the varieties of cereal at a grocery store.

Today bad decisions can be costly. We live in a competitive world. Bad choices and wrong decisions can harm your future and mess up your ability to be competitive.
Here's something else you need to know: Among the greatest sources of stress is an unmade decision. Until matters are settled, a decision has been made, your stress level will stay up.

So how do we make wise decisions? I suggest a decision-making framework that consists of six necessary questions.

One - Will this decision compromise my integrity? If a fire broke out in my house, my smoke detector would sound a loud, shrill alarm. If you are considering a decision that will compromise your integrity or lower your standards, an alarm needs to go off in your soul.

Two - What will this decision do to my relationships with people? Wise decisions always produce respect from others and sensitivity to people. Any fool can start an argument. But it's a mark of wisdom to build strong relationships. Great decisions always have a strong “people element” to them.

Three - Is my decision fair and rational? In ministry work I frequently see people who make decisions that aren't fair and rational. I see parents do this to their kids—harsh decisions that just aren't fair. I see husbands do this to their wives—self-centered decisions that make them hard to live with. I see couples do this to each other—making decisions to spend money they don't have.

Four - Have I done my homework? Gather as much information and as many facts as you can to guide you. Make a list of pros and cons. Seek the opinions of trusted people in your life. Give your decision some thought rather than emotionally making the decision based on a feeling.

Five - Am I learning from my experiences? Have you ever known someone who kept repeating the same mistakes? Make a habit of evaluating your personal decisions. If a decision went well, determine why it did so you can repeat what you did again in the future. If your decision did not go well, then try to understand why, and determine what you could do differently next time.

Six - Have I asked God for wisdom? One of my favorite Bible verses is James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God.” The verse goes on to describe how God gives needed wisdom generously and without criticizing you because you asked for it. You don't have to grope in the dark hoping to stumble upon the right answer. Ask God to guide you.