Godly counsel
“Then his wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die.” ” (AKJV) Job 2:9
Life in the 21st century is so complex and challenging that everybody becomes disturbed at some point in time. Life has been so since the creation of the world. No matter who you are and what you possess, advice is very important. Because of this, everyone needs advice in different aspects of our lives to sail through these storms of life. Proverbs 12:15 states “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel”.
How do you choose an adviser? Do you just listen to an advice because it may be coming from family members (like marital partner, parents, siblings), co-workers or from a fellow Christians? Be extra careful when anyone offers an advice to you because you will be better or worse based on the type of counsel you choose to admit and respond to. Most people are ill advised by the people they trust most. Let us consider some individuals who fell for wrong advice:
- Ammon was advised on how to rape his sister by his best friend (2 Sam 13:3-5).
- Ahithophel who was King David’s counselor advised Absalom to lie with his father’s concubines to demonstrate that Absalom was a strong man (2 Sam 16:20-23).
- Rehoboam (son of King Solomon) listened to ill advice from his peers rather than a good advice from the elders and lost 10 tribes of Israel (1 Kg 12:1-16).
- Herode’s wife gave a poisonous advice to her daughter in Mathew 14:8 to demand the head of John the Baptist.
- Job was also offered a bad counsel but he rejected it outright (i.e. curse God and die, Job 2:9).
That wrong advice came from the person closest to him, his wife. When life get difficult for you and problems comes upon you, what advice do you accept? Do not accept wrong advice as a Christian because you have a challenge and wants a shortcut solution. Do not allow bad advice to influence you to satisfy your carnal desire.
Let us also appreciate people who provided good counsel like the servant that appealed to Naaman on the directions of Elisha (2 Kg 5:13). Listen and obey advice that is in line with God’s word. Do not accept advice because you know a person even at church if the advice does not match with God’s word. Listen well to the content of all advice but not the messenger of the message. All those who chose to accept and act on wrong advices suffer terrible consequences. Refuse to accept any ill advice. Those who admit good counsel have a better life after heeding to the advice. Please choose well. God bless you! .