When discussing the topic of the will of God in relation to our everyday decisions and even to our big decisions regarding career and marriage, every Christian would agree that God's will must be within His moral standards of don'ts. Beyond this, however, two separate philosophies emerge. One camp claims that God has a specific plan for every person's life, and each detail must be revealed to the individual, or else he will be outside of God's will. The second camp considers all amoral decisions to be at the discretion of the believer with the qualifications that it must fall within the moral will (law) of God and that wisdom and common sense should be used. I would like to consider the consequences of each of these beliefs.
The Dot Theory is the idea that there is only one course for an individual's life that is truly the will of God; any variance from this specific plan will place one outside the will of God until that variance expires. This theory is most evident in the fear of marrying the wrong person. With the single qualification that believers not be unequally yoked, Jesus told His disciples that it was each man's choice whether to marry or not to marry, and never does the Bible state that one woman (exclusively) is created for each man (though no man should have more than one wife). The Dot Theory may be used to justify sins such as divorce under the notion that the marriage was not God's will to begin with.
Additionally, the Dot Theory causes needless anxiety concerning amoral decisions. Thinking that anything outside of God's specific will is sinful, Christians tend to rely heavily on circumstances to dictate God's specific will. Often these believers will wait to act in any direction because they think that they must have a message or sign from God that makes one path more clear. This is often practiced when choosing a college or a new house. Believers look for indications or a sign revealing the one college or house which is in God's will for them. Being so dependent fosters immaturity in the area of wise decision-making.
A more realistic view of God's will is that which is limited exclusively by God's moral commands. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in reaction to a common saying in Corinth that all things are permissible (though sin is never permissible) but not all things are beneficial. In this light, Christians should seek to make amoral decisions based on principles of wisdom. These principles generally funnel to a much smaller range than just inside the moral will of God. However, there is still plenty of room to make as many varied choices as one has interests.
