It has been said that common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done. George Bernard Shaw said, “Common sense is instinct, enough of it is genius.” This is the perspective of the world. Not much dictates common sense more than the obvious. Although the obvious is not always so obvious, it is also not always the truth. Either way, choosing the obvious is never the way for a believer to proceed in making life decisions.
Proverbs 3:5-7 addresses the habit of relying on common sense, data, logic and reason at the expense of excluding God. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” At first blush many Christians blow off a Proverb as just sage advice or common sense. If you search the scriptures for stories and parables that reinforce the notion of a decision making process that operates on something other than the obvious, get ready to be blown away. Get ready to change the way you make some decisions.
When David first became King over Israel his intent was to unite the northern and southern kingdoms. The Philistines were Israel’s most powerful enemy and they went up in full force to search for David. I can only begin to imagine the scene David looked down on from his mountain stronghold as he gazed upon an invading army with the intent to stop him. “Now the Philistines had spread out in the Valley of Rephaim, so David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?'” 2 Samuel 5:18-19. Really, David?
It was obvious to David and the nations that he had God’s favor and was the chosen King to unite Israel. It seems like common sense that David should attack anything that stood in his way, much less an army that had pursued him and camped out in plain sight. So, why did the man who was “after God’s own heart” need to stop and ask what to do at this point? Because your own wisdom and understanding doesn’t acknowledge God and give him the opportunity to make your paths straight. Because using common sense doesn’t show a fear for God but shows pride and arrogance, which shows ignorance in the way God works.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isiah 56:8-9. In simple terminology, ask me before you do anything. David knew to do this because David had learned this. David asked God to weigh in on the obvious and waited for an answer. Unless we practice the same discipline, we risk growing further away and out of His will each day.
Money is the low hanging fruit for the discipline of asking God as opposed to using common sense. My wife’s car is breaking down. The lawn mower just died on me, the outdoor faucet has been leaking for 6 months and my daughter wants a new car. Oh yeah, I also want to screen in the back porch so the mosquitoes don’t eat me alive. Do any of these sound familiar to you? When you finally get some money saved to do these projects, is spending the cash on these items obvious? Maybe someone else has a greater need and only God can bring it to your mind and into your path. Maybe God just wants a little respect to make sure you don’t have any other master before Him. Either way, stop and ask.
Money can be one of the biggest deterrents to seeking the voice of God. How do I know this? Jesus talked about it all the time. In the book of Luke there was a certain rich fella who’s crops yielded a bumper harvest and he didn’t have room to store them all. He chose the obvious answer, tear down your barns and build bigger ones to store up for retirement. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.” Luke 12:20-21.
In the example of an abundant harvest or in David’s case with an invading army, there doesn’t appear to be a need to ask God what to do. But listen to how differently God responds when we ask Him about the obvious. When we bring Him to the forefront of making our no brainer, common sensical obvious decisions, there is always blessing and reward. When we make common sense decisions on our own, there can be shame and death. I’ll minimize the risk and choose door number one, thank you. Why? Because as a believer I KNOW this is what He teaches. And because at 56, I’ve learned the hard way. The obvious is not always right.
There is risk when we choose the obvious and don’t ask God what He wants. Every financial decision is a spiritual decision. Ask God even when it’s obvious. Run the risk of being laughed at or called a fool by your friends and not your God. Choose God before you choose the obvious.