Context is everything. Well, almost. But it does give the backstory and brings in other elements of a situation that may change how we perceive it. So, the context for our recent trip to Idaho to visit our grandkids, Josh and Kate: my wife Sheila LOVES baked potatoes, and could have one every night. On our drive through countless miles of California and Nevada desert to the potato mecca, she voiced her desire for an IDAHO baked potato.
Idaho did bring us to our grandkids, but not to her baked Idaho potato. She tried every restaurant, but none even had them on the menu, and the absence tended to increase her yearning as she said, “I NEED an Idaho baked potato!”
Then success! She opened the menu at a new eatery and saw baked potatoes listed, and joyfully ordered her entrée with the baker. The waiter replied, “I apologize, but we’re out. We can’t even get them.”
Desperate to meet her need for an Idaho spud, we went to the most awesome Albertson’s we’ve ever seen, with more selections than seemed possible. At least we could take some home. But Sheila, the ultimate comparison shopper, read the labels for their source. California. Just about all. We finally found some packages of four actual Idaho-sourced potatoes, in the pic above, and at our first cooked dinner at home, she got her Idaho baked potato.
But her repeated declarations that she needed an Idaho potato led us to numerous and humorous discussions on the difference between need and want. Which, in turn, led me to think about incorporating need and want into decision making. So, some tips on choosing among differing options.
We face countless daily decisions, and frankly, many of them have no apparent spiritual significance. What brand of toothpaste? What model of car? Do I mow the lawn today or tomorrow? But one of my favorite verses suggests we think about that first, “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Or, before we decide, we evaluate if it fits into the category of good or evil. If it’s good or neutral, go for what fits best. If it’s evil, we steer clear.
But we need to know what the Bible teaches. Some time back, I learned a helpful grid from Scott Bartchey, a UCLA New Testament prof. In applying scripture, the most weight goes to general principles and commands that apply to all. The next comes from Bible examples: what followers did, but without a command. Must we follow that example? No, but it might be wise. The least is from specific solutions to specific problems. Must women always wear a head covering, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:6, “If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.”?
For the next decision-making step, throw in our baked potato story: do we need it, or want it? Or, do we call it a need to justify what we want to do? Sometimes, meeting a want can keep us from meeting a need.
Honestly, this process is tough, and I know we sometimes short circuit it. But our decisions determine our destiny, so maybe investing a little time might profit us.
Kick Starting the Application
How much time do you typically spend deciding on issues that have spiritual significance? Do you need to spend more or less? Do these tips help in your next decision?