QUESTION: Where should I look for good “Advice”?

ANSWER: What should I do? This is a commonly asked question. In an age of conflicting claims and confusing directions, many search for wise counsel. It seems harder to know what to do these days. Maybe that’s why counselors are in such great demand and advice columnists are in every newspaper. But there is a critical difference between wise counsel and misleading advice, and well-meaning direction that leads to destruction. Of all wisdom, God’s wisdom is the best, for His is given with a perspective of eternity. Who among us would not like to talk to someone who knows everything that will happen tomorrow and every tomorrow to come? We would do well to seek advice more often from the source of divine wisdom: God’s Word.

{Why do I need advice from others? Why can’t I just rely on my own wisdom?}

[Proverbs 12:15]   Only fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to advice from others… Wisdom is the recognition of our inadequacies. Foolishness is thinking we have none. It is wise to recognize our limitations now, rather than to discover them at the wrong time. 

{How valuable is wise advice?}

[Proverbs 25:11]   Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket… Timely advice is not merely helpful; it is beautiful. It is not merely beautiful; it is valuable.

{Where do I look for good advice?}

[Genesis 6:9]   Noah was a righteous man…He consistently followed God’s will and enjoyed a close relationship with Him… If you have a close relationship with God, you will have expert advice.

[Titus 1:15-16]   Everything is pure to those whose heart is pure… Seek advice from those who are faithful, godly, honest, and trustworthy. These can be counted on to give you counsel that comes from God’s Word.

{How do I evaluate the advice of others?} 

[2 Chronicles 22: 4-5]   Members of Ahab’s family became Ahaziah’s advisers, and they led him to ruin… Be sure you know that you have godly advisers.

[Matthew 7:15-20]   You can detect them by the way they act, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit…

[2 John 1:9-10]   If you wonder beyond the teachings of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God… Seek advice from those who have knowledge of God’s Word. Valuate their advice by checking it against God’s truth. If it contradicts God’s word, avoid it at all costs.

{How do I give good advice to others?}

[Philippians 4:8]   Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise… In giving advice to others, have pure motives, point to God’s Word, don’t use advice as an excuse to lecture, pray about what you want to say, and have the others best interest in mind. Words are like medicine; they should be measured with care, for an overdose may do more harm than good. It can, and has, even been fatal.

{Godly advice builds joy while evil advice robs our joy} 

[Psalms 1:1-6]   Oh, the joy of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. Following evil advice leads to sorrow and disaster, robbing us of joy. Godly advice leads us to joy in the Lord. This first chapter of Psalms is a perfect example. It shows both, the good and the bad.

{The ability to give good advice is a gift of the Holy Spirit, not the result of intelligence.} 

[1 Corinthians 12:8]   To one person the Spirit gave the ability to give wise advice; to another He gave the gift of special knowledge.  

{Wisdom for this time}   It would take a semi-truck to haul away all the free advice you can receive from these street corner intellectuals, but its value won’t buy you a cup of coffee. Stay with God’s Word, its value is untold, and will last an eternity!