What thought can I share that you don’t already know regarding double-minded
people? Instead of citing the dictionary’s
definition as I sometimes do, which allows the reader to consume every jot and
tittle of its meaning, perhaps a few examples may better explain the term “double-minded”
for those of us that require a picture perfect explanation.
Some folks are more visually astute than those that are intellectually
minded. We need facts, through examples,
to mull over in our brain to visualize the depth and breadth of the issue at
hand. Examples work for me.
My dad used two words to express his perception of people that could
not make up their mind concerning matters of life, especially in the work
place. He called them, “wishy-washy,”
which meant they were unstable—a fair to meddling type mindset, with a comme
ci, comme ca type mentality. He also
called them, “fickle minded.”
Dad was a no-nonsense kind of guy that believed in total commitment of
oneself to a task that was worth doing, whether at home, work, or church. Giving 100% of his mental, physical, and
spiritual aptitude was most important to him.
He endeavored to teach me this quality from my early childhood, because
he knew that good work ethics just didn’t happen, they had to be learned.
Dad not only taught me how to earn money, but how to save it. By example, he taught me how to be
responsible when spending it as well.
Dad was not double-minded. He
was more set in his ways than not. Once
he made up his mind about something; that was it, period. He did not live beyond his means, but enjoyed
what he could afford without going in debt.
Dad instilled in me the importance of striving to be the very best at whatever I put my mind
to do. I remember him saying, “You’ve
got to be a little better than the other guy in order to stay.” This meant that I could not perform in a
haphazard, hit or miss approach to a job and expect to remain employed. He told me, more than once, that people who
gave ten hours work for eight hours pay were usually the ones that stayed when cutbacks had to be implemented. He called
it, “10 for 8.”
Individuals that are performance-minded are usually the best workers at
what they do, because they are stable thinkers, whereas, double-minded people
fall short of the mark of excellence when it comes to work ethics and job
related issues.
It is unacceptable behavior for a police officer on the streets of our
cities, for example, or individuals serving in the U.S.
Instability can prove to be an Achilles’ heel to those dealing with
people at home and abroad, because a double-minded person is unstable in all
their ways. They are like a leaf in the
breeze; unable to make up their mind when situations arise, which require quick
action and proficient behavior. Good
judgment is a must, but double-minded people fall short of this all-important
ability to perform under pressure and with self confidence.
For the most part, double-minded people do not possess the ability to
act responsibly or to carry out a course of action that requires sound thinking
in emergencies. They lack discipline and
cannot be counted on for dependability.
Poor judgment ensues when they try to conduct themselves in a
professional manner regarding life and death situations, because making
decisions is not their strong point.
(James 1:5-8), “If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without
reproach, and it will be given to him.”
vs.6 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is
like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” vs.7 “For let not that man suppose that he
will receive anything from the Lord;” vs.8 “he is a double-minded man, unstable
in all his ways.”
Counsel and professional guidance is good, but it can become a problem
when others are allowed to dictate how we are to live and think, thus, taking
from us the challenge of figuring things out for ourselves and then sticking
with the decision that we make.
Remember Jim Jones and his followers?
All perished, because they allowed him to think for them and take away
their ability to distinguish right from wrong.
They were brainwashed into doing things that a sound-minded person would
have said no. They were double-minded.
The death grip of a domineering influence quickly falls under the
heading of manipulation. We must guard
against this type of negative influence and recognize it for what it is.
When a person allows others to manipulate their mind and do the
thinking for them, or they zone out within their own self-made world of
irresponsibility, double-mindedness soon becomes the issue. To break this hold is very difficult, but not
impossible. God is able to deliver any
person from this inadequacy.
Double-minded behavior can be the result of an individual not wanting
to hurt another person’s feelings out of a false sense of respect, or they recognize
that the other person is of a domineering type personality and that any
deviation to their expectations will end in retribution. Possibly, the vacillating person fears that
they will not measure up to the standards the other person expects of
them.
Have you ever met someone that lacked maturity; having the mentality of
an adolescent child; inconsistent and unpredictable? Follow-through is a struggle for them,
because they suppress the ability to accept responsibility and to take upon
themselves the wherewithal to do the things that need to get done.
Their modus operandi is to wait for someone else to crack the whip and
paint a vivid picture for them, figuratively speaking, while hearing them
demand that they ship up or ship out, as it were. Could it be that people with this shrinking
type of personality have been raised in an environment of hard-to-please
parents or guardians?
Strong willed siblings that always demand their way can also be a
factor in producing double-mindedness, because the weaker or less aggressive
one in the family is always giving into the more assertive brother or sister.
When they do take the initiative to attempt something on their own, it
is always met with, “That’s not the way I want it done! Do it this way!” or “It’s not good
enough! You can do better than that!” As the world would say, “Damned if I do and
damned if I don’t.”
And then there are those that are downright lazy and fickle-minded that
refuse to do anything, because they have been pampered their whole life, and
carried on a chip, as my dad would say.
Others have always done for them; failing to teach the importance of self-discipline,
which includes accountability and responsibility. Remember, these proficiencies have to be
taught.
I believe double-minded people can also learn this negative behavior
through the example of other lazy people of influence, or from overbearing
influences, or a lack of positive role models.
In some people it is just their melancholy nature that can cause them to
become double-minded. It is who they are
from birth; but again, ongoing attention by the child’s parents can curb this
disposition of character and direct it toward excellence.
Anyway you look at it, those with tunnel vision (double-minded) cannot
see opportunities around them even though they are staring them in the face or biting them in the rear. They
refuse to see what needs to be done, because this would involve making a
decision and sticking with the decision, which is difficult for them to do.
They have not been taught how not to be double-minded. For this reason it is important to teach
accountability in the early ages of development, which is coupled with
responsibility.
Yes, decisions are most difficult to make at times. Vacillating back and forth concerning a
matter is not fun, but it is life. It is
the gathering of information and facts, while determining the pros and cons,
which is the natural chain of responsibility vs. accomplishment. Those that take a backseat to responsibility
usually are those that allow someone else to determine the course of action
taken.
If a person is in a state of indecision, this can prove to be
detrimental to their state of mind and their level of engagement with
society. They must learn how to choose
not to gamble their future on someone else’s personal dictates, because the
destiny of the rest of their life might be weighted in the balance and found
wanting if they practice letting others make all the decisions for them.
Godly council is a good thing.
We all need it from time to time to help us through difficult times. When we take matters to God in prayer, it stimulates
our mind, which promotes sharpness. We
learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us into all
truth. We need to include Him when
making decisions, because the decisions we make ultimately affect everyone that
we have influence over.
Job opportunities, relocating one’s residence, investing in
get-rich-quick ventures, and the like, are a few of the things that determine
the types of people we meet, the environment (safe or otherwise) we live in,
the education our kids receive, and the people they involve themselves
with. All these choices and more hinge
on decisions, or the lack thereof, or what others tell us to do. God’s will is best.
Double-minded thinking equals unstable living. May God help us to protect our mind from
complacency so that we can live a prosperous and victorious life; with a hope
for the future.
(Jeremiah 29:11-13), “For I know
the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not
of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
vs.12 “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will
listen to you.” vs.13 “And you will seek
Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Considering the vantage point from a spiritual prospective, having and
maintaining a healthy thought process helps to protect us from becoming
entangled in Satan’s snares of temptation.
When we serve God with a pure heart and a made up mind to keep His
commandments, we are not easily persuaded to stray from truth and become
entangled with sin.
We do not want to be like a leaf in the breeze of this ever changing
world. Including God in all decisions,
and walking in His confidence and strength, brings peace of mind. Yes, life is a walk of faith, but we can
allow the Holy Spirit to come alongside us when decisions must be made.
My dad practiced what he called, “praying through.” He believed that taking matters to God in
prayer and staying on his knees until he received the peace of God regarding these
issues, he could arise with a made up mind as to the will of God.
I wonder how many people spend time in prayer in this computer
age. Some people are prone to turn on
the radio and listen to the wisdom of talk show hosts or turn on the television
and watch Dr. Phil or the Doctors rather than taking their questions to the One
who knows what tomorrow holds.
We need to get back to the basics of life and guard our mind; praying and reading our
Bible, which prevents us from developing develop double-minded thinking. Putting on the Whole Armor of God will
certainly bring this about; enabling us to stand against the wiles of the
devil. The helmet of salvation protects
our mind from negative influences. (Ephesians 6:11-18)
Written by,
Papa Boyd
