From time to time, and very often, we all need advice. We find ourselves in a difficult situation. We may have two good decisions to choose from, and we don’t know which one to take. Maybe we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place and don’t know what to do. We wonder which dilemma will cause less pain, hurt, or problems.
And so, what we need to do is to seek good advice, wise counsel. Here are some verses that support seeking good and Godly counsel.
Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end, you will be counted among the wise.”
Seeking counsel and advice from others is good. But when we receive advice, we must weigh it against the Bible and against what the Holy Spirit is telling is prayer.
Let me share a brief story from 1 Kings 12. After the death of King Solomon, Rehoboam was to be king. The people led by Jeroboam asked him for a reduction from the high taxes Solomon had exacted from them. They promised that if he lowered the taxes, they would loyally serve him. And so, he sought advice from some of the elders. “7They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
But Rehoboam rejected this advice and went to younger leaders to get their advice. These young men replied, “10Tell these people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’—tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” Rehoboam took the young leader’s advice and told the people what they said he should tell them. The ultimate outcome was a divided kingdom north and south.
Although God encourages us to gain advice and counsel from people, the place to start is with God. James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” God will use Godly people to help us. But we always need to be careful and in prayer weigh all advice except that which comes directly from the word of God.
In Christ Alone
Pastor Gary will be on vacation from May 28 through May 31. Pastor Matt will preach on May 31.
No responses yet