1 Kings 3:28
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.
Judgment is the ability to assess right in every situation. Solomon had the great ability to make the proper judgment, even when he faced tough situations. This judgment did not happen overnight; rather, he sat at his dad’s feet learning how to make the right decisions and applied those lessons to his life. His ability to develop judgment helped him to quickly acquire the trust of those he led when he became king.
Developing judgment in your life may be one of the most critical traits you develop. There are many traits you need to work on, but nothing will impact your ability to lead and your future like having good judgment. Having good judgment helps you to be a better parent, leader, and a better Christian to help others. Let me share several things you need to do to develop good judgment.
First, be a student of God’s Word. God’s Word is filled with wisdom, principles, and applications from the narratives of lives that can help you to see what to do in every situation. I believe God’s Word has an example of what to do with every decision you face. Study God’s Word, and you will develop the knowledge of what to do in every situation.
Second, be a person of prayer. Never make life-changing decisions without spending much time in prayer. Don't rush into decisions that will affect your life for many years. Be willing to wait so you can pray and get God’s mind on what you should do with a decision you need to make.
Third, when it doesn’t sound right, wait. Sometimes, you must decide that what you are hearing doesn't sound right. In these times, it is best to wait until you get clarity on what to do. Part of having good judgment is having common sense. People who refuse to listen to common sense are people who make bad decisions. When that voice in your gut tells you that something doesn't sound right, that voice is the Holy Spirit telling you not to do it. Listen to that voice; it is better to wait than to jump into a decision that you will regret later.
Fourth, get the whole story before making a decision. Good judgment is often the result of seeing the whole picture before you make a decision. Be willing to wait to get the whole picture painted before you make a decision about something. It may sound good initially, but by getting the whole story, you may discover that the initial picture of what was painted is a fraud.
Fifth, don’t run with people who have poor judgment. You are who you spend time with, so if you spend time with people of poor judgment, you will become a person who makes poor judgments.
Sixth, be a student of the past. The past often tells you what to do with today’s decision. Many people will think you have the ability to see the future, but that ability is because you are a student of the past. Right and wrong never change; therefore, if you study the past, you will learn where decisions will take you tomorrow.
Seventh, find the direction a decision makes and see where that decision will take you tomorrow. Make your decisions by the direction it points you towards, and you will find you can have good judgment if you only choose to do more right.
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