Seek Wise Counsel-4 Sources of Wise Counsel

Throughout Proverbs God urges us to seek wise counsel and instruction.  He tells us that the wise man seeks the counsel of many and that only the fool, the scorner, the wicked refuse wise counsel.

Proverbs 12:15 tells us…

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

However, there are so many voices in this world, a multitude of counselors, competing to give us that counsel and to tell us how to live life.

God tells us in Proverbs 11:14…

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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We hear advice from TV and radio talk show hosts and their guests.

We are given advice and influenced by all that we read and see on social media.  Such as this “gem” of wisdom posted on Facebook…

Don’t think too much. Just do what makes you happy. *

Facebook

Really?  Uh…no!

There are also self-help and how-to books that offer much instruction and advice, as well.

And we can find advice and information on just about any topic through a Google search on the web.

Friends and family can be quick to share their opinions, as well.  And you know what they say about opinions, right?  …Everyone has one. 

But, when you need advice, how do you know who to trust?  Whose counsel will be a benefit instead of making things worse for you, causing you “to err from the words of knowledge?”  (Proverbs 19:27)

 

Who in this multitude of counselors can you trust?

Who can you go to for wise counsel?

Where should you start when needing to seek wise counsel?

• The Lord

Well, of course, the first Person in this multitude of counselors we should always seek is the Lord.  But sadly, many times He is the One we seek last.

God has all the answers for every need.  All we have to do is seek Him in prayer.  The earnest, fervent kind of prayer.  From a heart willing to act on whatever He shows us is the right course of action to take.

We should also then go directly to His Word to see what instruction He has already given for our situation.

You might be surprised, once you get to searching, just how much God provided in His Word to help us in our daily lives.  I know I have been a time or two.  😉

For instance, perhaps you are having trouble in your marriage.  And you’re hurting.  And seriously wondering about whether to stay.

Maybe you don’t even think your husband is saved.  You wonder, “If he is lost, aren’t Christians not supposed to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers?

Then, in your search for wise counsel to know what you should do, you find this verse…

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.  1 Corinthians 7:13

Well…how much clearer could God have been?  No need to revisit that question again then.  Right? 

Ok.  So you’ve sought the Lord in prayer and gone to His Word.  And still have questions and need help.  Where should you go next?  Where might this wife, and hopefully her husband, go for further wise counsel?

 

• Your Pastor

The next place to go to seek wise counsel, after seeking God in prayer and in His Word, would be your pastor.  He has a vested interest in your spiritual life and also loves and cares about you as one of his flock.

Obey them[pastors] that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.  Hebrews 13:17

In my example above, even though this wife has definite counsel from scripture and knows God’s instruction to her is to stay in her marriage, it would be wise for her and her husband to seek the counsel of their pastor for the help and advice that he can offer.  Leaving is no longer an option in her mind, but who wants to live miserable?

If you are struggling in any way, and your pastor is a Spirit-led man of God, then I assure you he wants to know about it.

Your pastor, if he is like mine, is a wonderful source of scriptural wisdom and discernment.  Don’t be shy to ask him what scripture he can show you that would apply to your question or need.  And ask him to pray with and for you.

~~If you don’t have a pastor right now, let me invite you to visit my church’s website and contact mine, Pastor Chance Sangster.  He would love to talk with you and try to be a help to you.  (And in case you’re wondering, I asked him before sharing him with you all.)  🙂 

So, you’ve sought God in prayer and in His Word and talked with your pastor.  Who else can you turn to for God’s wisdom and counsel?

 

• Your Parents

Another source of wisdom is our parents.  And depending on your age or situation, you may likely go to them before you go to your pastor.  After all, who on earth loves us more than our parents?

And if you are blessed to have good godly parents, then you know that they only want the best for you.

And many times, you don’t even have to ask them what they would advise in your situation.  We parents are notorious for offering unsolicited advice to our adult children!  But, of course, we mean well.

As we go through our teen years we tend to discount our parents’ wisdom.  As we get older, however, we realize more and more how valuable their knowledge and advice can be.

I’m fortunate to still have my parents to talk things out with.  In fact, they were both great to listen and talk with me about starting this blog.  God provided much wisdom and help through them for this ministry.  Praise the Lord for godly parents! 

Who else might you seek wise counsel from?

 

• Other Christians

Only the wisdom that is of God is worth anything.  Therefore, when seeking life advice from others, such as counseling services or friends or books or blogs, and even parents, we must be careful to take that advice from other Christians.

And Christians that have sound Biblical beliefs.  Beliefs such as those included in this LDN ministry’s Statement of Faith.

When we are hurting or confused, we are vulnerable and need to guard against receiving unbiblical advice as much as possible.

We also need to be honest seekers of truth for our situation.  And not just go to the friends we know will tell us what we want to hear.  Or will simply agree with us.

If we really want to know what God wants for us, His wisdom, then we must honestly seek after that wisdom…even if it isn’t the most comfortable advice to hear. Remember…

Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.  Proverbs 15:22

 

But what if you have sought wisdom and godly advice from others, but they don’t all agree with each other?

And maybe the Bible doesn’t have a black and white “Do” or “Don’t” that applies, as in my example above?

Then what?

How can you know which advice is the choice God would have you make?  Keep praying and reading and searching His Word.  God’s Word is filled with Biblical principles to guide us in situations not covered with a specific “Do” or “Don’t.”   Search for those guiding principles and trust this verse—

Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.  Proverbs 16:3

God isn’t trying to hide His wisdom and instructions from us.  He will make it known to you what path to take.

In the meantime, keep doing the next right thing you know to do.  And keep… 

Drawing nigh to Him,

Teresa

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

Who in your life do you depend on for wise counsel, besides the Lord?  Have you gone through a situation similar to my marriage example where you found definite guidance in God’s Word?  If you can, share it with us.

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