Sabbath Thought – Decision Fatigue

The western nations in general, and the U.S.A. in particular, have access to so many things that a very real dilemma is having too many choices. I may want cereal for breakfast, but how do I choose between the 30 brands on the shelf (and the same is true for drinks, bread, yogurt, cheese, etc.)? I need a new computer, but what CPU chip do I choose, how big of a hard drive do I want – or do I plan on having my software and file storage on the cloud? We can say the same things about the car we drive, the phone we use, the clothes we purchase, and on it goes. In the game of chess, we see a similar example of decisions multiplying. At the beginning of the game, there are only a relatively few moves to choose from, but as the game progresses the choices grow exponentially.

Having so many options to choose from has been given a name. It is called decision fatigue. It can be fatiguing to choose because it is not just one thing as I illustrated above. It seems that every choice of what to buy or do has an almost overwhelming number of possible choices. It is an interesting contrast then, to consider that making choices in the calling God has given to us is relatively binary. That is there are really only two choices to consider.

In Deuteronomy 30:19 Moses recorded God’s words to Israel – “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” The only meaningful choices we have to consider are those – do we, are we, choosing life or death? The longer view to consider in that verse is spiritual, eternal life, or permanent, eternal death. Considering these two choices then impacts every decision we make. I might be considering marrying someone, but will that someone help me continue to choose life or will they influence me to reject God’s instruction (choosing death)? I might be considering purchasing some type of electronics, or a new car, or house or any number of other things, but will that choice help me to continue to choose life, or will it become a focus of pride or wrongfully putting that thing before God (choosing death)?

This view might seem overly simplistic, but it is not. God made us physical for a reason. We must choose to become like Him in order to be given eternal life. The primary Greek word translated as “faith” in the New Testament is “pistis” and a primary meaning of that word is “moral conviction” – Godly character. In choosing anything, character is developed. If we consistently choose wrong things, our character is weak at best and ungodly at worst. In choosing good and right things we make choices that reflect God’s character and so develop Godly character – leading to eternal life.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had two choices – the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil or the Tree of Life. One choice led to death and the other to life. Joshua encouraged the nation of Israel to choose between the gods their fathers served in Egypt or the gods of the Amorites, or the one true God (Joshua 24:15). Elijah asked Israel why they waffled between “two opinions” – serving God or serving Baal (choosing life or choosing death – 1 Kings 18:21). The Proverbs are full of contrasts of good and bad choices.

God made the Sabbath for mankind (Mark 2:27). We are called before His presence on this day to learn how to better apply His instruction in our life, to worship Him as the giver of all good things (Philippians 4:8), and to consider our choices. Will we, are we, choosing life or choosing death?

I wish you a very meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

11 July, 2026