We all make decisions on a daily basis--many are irrelevant,
some are relevant, and a few are life-changing.
God does not want us to be anxious. He wants us to share with
Him those options which can affect the direction of our lives.
His Word (The Bible) provides guidance in many instances. His
moral commandments (not only the 10*) and His proverbs are
given to us for our own good and the wellbeing of others.
People who love God sometimes give good advice, sometimes
don't. Let's check what they are saying with what the Bible
says. If their advice contradicts the Bible, we shouldn't follow
it. They are human, and we all make mistakes.
The Bible, however, can be misinterpreted when taking its advice
out of context. Let us examine, for example, the book of Joshua,
chapter 1. In it, God commands him to be strong and courageous.
Joshua needed it because he was going to start a new chapter in
his life, the life of his family, and the life of a nation--the
nation he was leading, and he was going to encounter great
opposition and difficulties before reaching the blessings that God
had promised.
God told Joshua that he was not going to be alone, that He was
going to be with him and help him. God Himself was going to lead
him, his family and the entire nation. He was going to provide
and defend them from their enemies. All they had to do was to trust
and obey God.
Three times God admonished Joshua to be strong and courageous.
The second time, like meat in a sandwich, He tells him for what
purpose: " ... to carefully do according to all the law that my
servant Moses commanded you. ... This book of the law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night,
in order for you to do according to all that is written there; for
then you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good
success."
The third time, God said, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and courageous, don't be afraid, neither be dismayed, for Yahweh
your God will be with you wherever you go."
If family, friends, or co-workers have invited you to a party,
and you suspect that it is going to involve sin, God is Not telling
you not to be afraid, to be strong and courageous and go with them;
rather the opposite--to say, "I am not going, thank you."
Sometimes, you don't suspect anything sinful; therefore, you decide
to go, but once there, what started nicely, developed into something
questionable or worse. God is Not telling you to stay, not to be
afraid, to be strong and courageous. Rather the opposite, God is
telling you, "Leave at once!" We need to be strong and courageous
to obey God; don't be afraid to leave that place at once, without
hesitation, and leave behind those people who are trying to seduce
you into disobeying God.
In our western society, many people (even Christians) say that it is
okay to be in the same room, apartment, or house alone with someone
from the opposite sex. However, it is not okay; we are human beings,
and sooner or later-maybe hours, maybe days, months, something sinful
will take place. God is Not telling you, "Hang in there, everything
will be okay, just be strong and courageous, don't be afraid."
God is Not telling Joshua, "You can go and get drunk, do drugs,
fornicate, or commit adultery; do not be afraid, I will be with you."
God is commanding us to be strong and very courageous to obey
His commandments, in spite of heavy opposition. Then, He will
bless us and be with us.
*.- e.g. "You shall not lie with men as with women; it is an abomination."
(Leviticus 18:22); "Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them
out, to be defiled by them: I am Yahewh your God." (Leviticus 19:31);
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among
you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the
land of Egypt: I am Yahweh your God." (Leviticus 19:34)