Gray Areas in Life: When the Right Decision Isn’t Obvious

Some decisions we face have clear black or white choices. We know immediately what the right and the wrong answer is. There isn’t a lot of room for waffling about whether it is okay to steal someone’s purse, commit adultery or kill someone who made us mad.

But some choices don’t seem so clear. Sometimes it’s not obvious which choice is right or wrong, wise or foolish.

Examples of gray areas in life

Should you give money to the homeless person you pass? Will he just use it for alcohol or drugs?

If a friend invites you to a movie, should you go? How much do you need to know about the movie to decide? If there is a bad scene in the movie, should you walk out?

If someone asks you a foolish or contentious question, how should you answer?

What is a gray area?

Merriam-Webster.com defines gray area as “an area or situation in which it is difficult to judge what is right and what is wrong.”

Some things can seem cloudy and gray. They don’t seem to be plainly addressed in the Bible.

These seemingly gray areas can be a problem, since our adversary the devil can use them against us. Satan would like the whole world to walk in a fog of confusion, without clarity on what to do and which way is right. This way he can lead people to making decisions based on their own thoughts.

But God wants us to seek the answers in His law (Isaiah 8:20) and to let His Word, the Bible, be a lamp to our feet—in other words, the basis for our decisions and direction in life (Psalm 119:105).

Questions to ask about gray areas

God wants us to seek the answers in His law and to let His Word, the Bible, be a lamp to our feet—in other words, the basis for our decisions and direction in life. So, what do we do when we come to a seemingly gray area in life? Here are a few things to consider:

• Is it gray because I don’t want to see the light? (Consider John 3:19-21.)
• Is it gray because I haven’t prayed for God’s guidance? (See Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 119:33-37.)
• Is it gray because I haven’t studied the Bible enough to see it clearly? (See Psalm 119:105.)
• Is it gray because I haven’t meditated—thought deeply about the subject based on God’s Word—enough? (See Psalm 119:97-99.)
• Is it gray because I haven’t sought wise counsel? (See Proverbs 11:14.)
• Is it gray because it isn’t a moral issue? Sometimes either choice can be right. (For example, what house or car to choose is not usually a moral issue.)
• Is it gray because it isn’t a wisdom issue? Sometimes the most perplexing decisions are when we are weighing two or more good options.

Shining the light of God’s truth to get the gray out

How can we reduce the number of gray areas we face?

In addition to asking the questions above, we can do it by systematically shining God’s light on our lives. We should start with the big things—the things that God says are most important, such as:

• “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
• “The weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23).
• “And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
• “Keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Corinthians 7:19).

In essence, we’ll be asking ourselves, Would I engage in this activity if Jesus Christ was with me? When we are still undecided about whether something is right or wrong, then we should go with the way that we believe would be pleasing to God.

For more insight on how to please God with your decisions, see “How to Please God.”

Photo credit:
Phototechno/iStock via Getty Images

Date Posted: December 8, 2021