Review: Wisdom On… Making Good Decisions By Mark Matlock

By Patti Gibbons on January 12 2010

Torn between chemistry and cooking class? Not sure about your summer plans? In the midst of choosing a college or a major? As students mature and become more independent, they face increasingly important choices, sometimes ones that can alter the course of the rest of their lives. Before they dissolve into quivering, foaming pink puddles of nerves and indecision, make sure to lend them a copy of this book, Wisdom On… Making Good Decisions, by speaker, writer and president of WisdomWorks Ministries, Mark Matlock. At the very least, make sure to share with them the principles found within.

Students are often told to "seek God's will" for their lives. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of practical advice on just how one is to go about figuring out what is God's will. Improvising based on what they pick up from various inspirational stories and conversations, students may begin using superstitious practices to determine God's will for them, such as looking for "signs", or trying to hear "the quiet voice inside." After they make a decision, they may begin to wonder if they disobeyed God and are doomed to live out "Plan B" for the rest of their sorry lives.

"You don't have to guess what God wants you to do!" Matlock announces, to the great relief of stressed-out students everywhere. Matlock succinctly explains that God's will has two parts: His moral will, outlined in the Bible in passages like the Ten Commandments; and His sovereign will, which is more often than not hidden from mankind. "Our responsibility is to make sure we follow God's moral standards. Beyond that, we're free to choose the path for our life," Matlock says. It's a refreshing reminder of God's gift of free will.

But even within the sphere of free will, decisions still have to be made, and hopefully wise ones. Matlock tells students that looking for signs and inner voices are not very reliable decision-making methods. Instead, building on a biblical basis, he offers sensible alternatives like seeking trusted counsel and doing research, while praying and looking to the Bible for wisdom. In keeping with the theme of practicality, the last chapter concludes with a series of case studies that illustrate how wise decision-making practices can be applied to everyday, real-life situations.

This book is a quick, easy, enlightening read. It gives a working understanding of commonly-misunderstood concepts like God's moral will, sovereign will, and free will, and follows up the theology lesson with practical advice on how to make wise, God-honoring decisions. It is ideal for high school students who face important decisions about colleges, careers, and relationships, but would also be a useful resource for any student who may have the occasion to decide a thing or two.

Additional titles in this Invert series for students from Youth Specialties:
Wisdom On... Friends, Dating, & Relationships
Wisdom On... Getting Along With Parents
Wisdom On... Growing In Christ
Wisdom On... Music, Movies & Television
Wisdom On... Time & Money

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