Who is your advisor?
There is no gainsaying that each one of us is frequently faced by an intricate situation. In such times we desperately need the counsel or advice of others. But care must be taken because advice is a potent force that can either set us on the pathway of success or send us down the lane of failure.
You, therefore, need to do your homework and check on the character and maturity of your advisors before seeking their counsel. The metaphor that one should never seek the medical advice of a doctor whose office flowers are dead is so true. Many businesses, marriages and relationships have been shipwrecked simply because a wrong advisor was sought.
How sound are your trusted advisors?
Rehoboam made a serious blunder in his reign as king over Israel that resulted in the revolt of 10 tribes all because of acting on wrong advice. When he began to reign he rejected the wise counsel of the mature and experienced elders who had successfully advised his father Solomon. Unfortunately, he took the advice of his young and inexperienced peers to the detriment of his kingship. His reign was short-lived all because of wrong counsel.
The Bible is clear on the fact that we need counsel. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” It is quite in order for you to seek advice from others when you find yourself in sticky situations. But choose your advisors carefully and act only on wise counsel.
The multitude of counsellors should consist of wise, objective, unbiased and mature people. The Scripture reveals that there are some people who are apt to give you bad advice. Psalm 1:1 reads, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” It is always safe for a believer to seek counsel from the Christian community because you share common beliefs and common view of the world.
Yes, sometimes we must seek advice from experts in a given field who may not be believers. But we must be careful not to swallow everything they say whether from believers or otherwise. Prayer for divine help and control in such cases will influence the outcomes.
Many people are gullible and weak-willed. They take the advice of the last person they consult without sitting down first and carefully weigh the facts.
This reminds me of a story that was told of two friends. One of them advised his friend that a wife needs to be beaten up sometimes in order for her to submit to her husband’s authority.
One day when they were coming from drinking beer, the one who believed in beating up his wife into submission advised his friend to beat up his wife when he arrives home. He himself promised to do the same.
When he arrived he entered into the bedroom and began to beat a pillow while his wife feigned crying. As their houses were next to each other, the other friend heard the noise and started to beat up his wife who cried in anguish. After that the two friends met outside together with their wives. The one who actually beat his wife was surprised to see that his friend and wife were happy and had faked the whole thing. He knew he had been deceived into causing trouble for his family. He parted ways with his ill-advisor.
That weak-willed friend had an ungodly and evil counsellor. What about you? Are you really sure you know the character and intentions of the person you consult most.
A certain lady had squabbles with her husband and consulted her friend on what to do. Her friend advised her to separate from her husband, which she did. After a few some months of separation, she then discovered that her trusted friend who had advised her to separate was the one who was having an affair with her husband that resulted in family strife. Close friends and relations have been known to cause the most harm in life all because they are the last to suspect.
Never put 100 percent trust in people. Put it in God who will never fail you. Take the Holy Spirit as your wonderful counsellor and you will avoid fateful errors.
In Psalm 32:8 God volunteers and promises to be your guide and advisor along the best pathway of your life. Why not seek His advice on tricky situations of your life? Remember, advice whether solicited or unsolicited, is not a command. You reserve the right to make final decisions and choices.
Refuse to be tele-guided and to act mechanically like a robot. You are a free moral agent. Accept the divinity in you and make your own decisions.
The counsel of others widens your choices so you can make decisions from an informed position. But you cannot blame your advisors for ill-advice. You must take responsibility for your actions.
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