Baptist City Blog

2 Chronicles 31:20

If I told you that I have a guide that it would always help you to make the right decisions, you would do anything to get your hands on that guide if you had a heart for God. There are many Christians who want to do right, but they face situations where they oftentimes don't know what to do. The verse above is that guide. You can see that there were three prerequisites that Hezekiah followed in determining his actions.

You will notice that it says that Hezekiah “wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.” The word “wrought” means to beat out or shape by hammering. In other words, he shaped every action by following these three guidelines.

First, he only did that which was “good.” Before you do anything always ask yourself, “Is this good?” In other words, is this something that God would want me to do? Many of our questions about whether or not we should do something could be answered if we would ask ourselves if something is good. If you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of you who will give you the answer as to whether something is good if you will simply ask. This may seem too simple, but the next time you are faced with a decision you would be wise to audibly ask yourself if what you are about to do is good. I believe the majority of your decisions can be answered just by following this first guide.

Second, he only did that which was “right.” The word “right” is the same word we use for “straight.” In other words, you must determine if what you are about to do is going to take you off the course of what God wants you to do or will it keep you going straight. Always be sure that what you do doesn’t pull you away from what God wants you to do. There are many things that are not wrong in and of themselves, but they become wrong when they take you away from what God wants you to do. Only do those things in life that are in the course of what God wants you to do.

Third, he only did that which was “truth.” This is simply asking yourself if you have any ulterior motives as to why you want to do something. There are times when we do good to spite others and show them that they were wrong about us and we were right. This is a wrong reason to do things. Don't do things to prove your point, but you do things because it is what God would want you to do. Everything you do should be done with a pure motive to please God and follow His will for your life.

It is interesting that by following these three guides to determining proper action, Hezekiah was able to do them “with all his heart.” In other words, there was nothing holding him back, and when nothing held him back he “prospered.” Friend, you will find it is not hard to get fully involved with your whole being when you follow these guides to determining actions. These guides will enable you to do things with all your heart because you have no reservation about whether or not God wants you to do it. Let me encourage you to always follow these guides to action. These guides will help you to prosper in the work that God has for you to do.