Life-Decisions

"A voice shall sound in your ears: 'This is the way; walk in it,' when you would turn to the right or to the left." —Isaiah 30:21

Life-decisions are those that relate to vocation, ministry, employment, education, residence, etc. Life-decisions deal with such questions as:

  • Should I be married or single?
  • Should I be a priest, deacon, brother, or sister?
  • Should I go to college?
  • Should I change jobs?
  • Should I move if I'm transferred on my job?
  • Should I buy this house in this city?
  • Should I retire now?

The answers to these very important questions are found by first answering three other more important questions:

  1. "Who is Jesus?"
  2. "Who am I in Christ?"
  3. "What is God's plan for my life?"

When we answer these three questions, all the other questions will virtually answer themselves.

WHO IS JESUS?

"'And you,' He said to them, 'Who do you say that I am?'" —Matthew 16:15

The first question in life is: "Who is Jesus?" Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn 14:6), the great I Am (Jn 8:58), one with the Father (Jn 10:30), God Himself (Jn 1:1). Either Jesus is a blasphemer and should be rejected, or He is God and should be worshiped. Until we accept Jesus for Who He is, there is no way we can know the true meaning of life. Without Jesus, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5); and marriage, the single life, work, school, and retirement will be mere exercises in futility.

WHO AM I IN CHRIST?

"Who are you?" —John 1:19

When we tell Jesus Who He is and make a personal commitment of our lives to Him, He tells us who we are. For example, when Simon Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus called Peter the "rock" on which He would build His Church (Mt 16:16-18).

Our identity is based on our relationship to someone or something. If we ask people who they are, they will say what job they have, what city they're from, or what things they possess. All of these identities are unworthy of the human person. Our true identity is found only in our relationship with Jesus. And only people who know who they are can know what is their vocation, where to work, what to buy, and how to live.

WHAT IS GOD'S PLAN FOR MY LIFE?

"We have been praying for you unceasingly and asking that you may attain full knowledge of His will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight. Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way." — Colossians 1:9-10

Many people think the purpose of life is to pursue petty pleasures or to collect possessions. They have believed the devil's lies and trivialized their lives. But once we know who we are in Christ, we know that "God doesn't make junk" and there's a special and glorious plan for our lives. When we start to see the outlines of God's blueprint for our lives, we have a pattern by which we can make our life-decisions. For example, we would not marry for mere sexual attraction. Rather, our concern is: "How does this person fit into God's plan for my life?" We don't move just because the company moves or buy a house because the price is right. The overriding question is always: "How does this fit into God's plan for my life?"

ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS

"Seek first His kingship over you, His way of holiness, and all these things will be given you besides." —Matthew 6:33

Jesus promised that, if we seek first His kingdom and His way of holiness, all our basic needs will be given to us besides. When we totally give ourselves to Jesus, find out who we are in Him, and commit ourselves to fulfill His plan for our lives, He takes care of the rest. With Jesus as Lord, it would be hard not to know if we are called to be single or married for His kingdom, if we should take this job, go to this school, buy this house, or live in this city. The Lord Jesus can communicate His will to those who are committed to listening to Him. Only our sins can prevent God from getting His way in our lives. In that case, we should simply repent, confess our sins, and return to doing His will. When we're right with God, we can hardly help but make the right decisions.

Take the first step to a happy, victorious life and eternity. Pray from your heart:

"Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me and that You are alive and listening to me now. I repent of my sins and ask Your forgiveness. From this moment on, I decide to live for You and no longer for myself, to do Your will and not mine. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Show me the way to the Father. Now fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Who will teach me how to live for You and how to tell the world You are my Savior and Lord. I love You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

If you made this commitment to Jesus, write us so we can share your joy.

 

Nihil obstat: Reverend Edward J. Gratsch on November 5, 1989.
Imprimatur: † Most Reverend Carl K. Moddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, on November 11, 1989.