1. Decisions and Fundamental Values
   Decisions are in fact your values-in-practice.
   
   • The Christian servant leader ought to make decisions based on strong convictions about fundamental values and beliefs. Decisions on specific issues flow from the values a person holds. Certain obstacles may impede that flow, of course; but without core values, a person has no firm basis from which to operate in making decisions. The Bible compares such persons to a ship in a storm, “tossed this way and that by the waves and winds” (Eph. 4:14).
     
   • For the Christian servant leader, the source of these values is God as He reveals His will through the life and teachings of His Son, Jesus, and through the Bible as a whole. Jesus indicated that the bedrock values are love for God and for neighbor and self. He indicated the priority of life was seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
     
   • Decisions follow beliefs, as noted from the book, Yes or No. The pattern and quality of a person's decision demonstrate true values.

     “You can see another person’s beliefs just by looking at enough of his or her decisions. Just so, any aware person can see your beliefs by looking at the pattern of your past decisions.”--Johnson, Yes or No, p. 54

     “. . . more often than not, a person with character will make better decisions, especially a person with integrity, intuition, and insight.”--Johnson, Yes or No, p. 58

2. Character Qualities of the Effective Decision Maker
   Character is the composite of your values and beliefs and the actions based on these. Values professed but not lived out indicate weak character. Lack of carefully understood personal values means a person has limited point of reference in making decisions. Without values no valid criteria exists for evaluating options and alternatives in a decision. Without firm values a person will be unpredictable and unreliable in decisions. Strong character provides consistency and dependability in decision-making. Of such is the stuff of a productive personal life, as well as strong leadership and effective servanthood.

   “Values help us determine what to do and what not to do….Values set the parameters for the hundreds of decisions we make every day. . . . Values constitute our personal 'bottomline.'” --Kouzes and Posner, The Leadership Challenge, p. 212

“God's calling is the necessary starting point in the life of a leader. There is absolutely no substitute. In other words, if you have not been called by God to lead His people, do not seek to do so on the basis of your own abilities or desire.”--Barna, Second Coming of the Church, pp. 107-08

3. What Are Your Strengths and Limitations?
   Certain qualities will help you be a more effective decision-maker. Here are ones often highlighted by those who have studied the lives of persons noted for making good decisions. Note how many of these are also highlighted in the Bible's teaching about authentic Christian character. The following list serves in two ways: instructional--summarizing the findings of research; and diagnostic--providing the framework of asking the question, "What are my strengths and limitations?"
   
   • Integrity, honesty, trustworthy
   • Compassion, really caring for others
   • Ability to listen and learn and apply
   • Courage, boldness
   • Decisiveness without rashness
   • An awareness of the big picture--how a decision affects others, an organization
   • Resilience--don't let failures and bad decisions get you down
   • Realistic, practical--what is the most we can get done?
   • Sensitive to “hunches” that may be the nudging of the Holy Spirit or of sub-conscious impressions, often from past successes and failures
   • Clear thinking--remember that even a woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head! Or better: “But you, keep your head in all situations, . . .” (2 Tim. 4:5)
   • A well-ordered sense of priorities
   • Proactive in making decisions
   • Decide neither too quickly nor too slowly