Proverbs 15:22 (MSG) Refuse good advice and watch your plans
fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.
Have you ever had anyone come to you for advice? I have. What
breaks my heart in this situation is, I’ve personally experienced what they are
walking through and have learned some very tough lessons yet, they don’t listen
nor take the advice I’m giving. What is that I wonder? I had to turn the
searchlight inward to find answers.
I’ve been reading through the book of Proverbs this month
and what I’ve noticed in the first 15 chapters is the way Solomon encourages us
to find, search for, and strive to obtain wisdom. To do this, he tells us to
seek God and to look for people who will give Godly counsel. If you are a
Christ follower, would you want to heed the words written for us in the Bible,
especially when it comes to growing in our relationship with Christ and the
people he loves? I would think so.
I know in times past I have sought counsel and not take the sound
and biblically centered advice given. What did I do that? Maybe I really wasn’t
ready to receive their counsel or perhaps, I was allowing my PRIDE to get in
the way of listening. Hummmm. It does
me no good to seek Godly advice and then not follow it. Real love for God is
shown by not merely asking for direction, but by following it once given.
Proverbs 15:22 was a great reminder of the way I used to
seek advice and the way I receive it now. Every time I asked for advice, and
didn’t take or act on it, things blew up in my face. Why, because I really wasn’t
listening to begin with. I had a pride problem. I thought I knew best but that
was just one of Satan’s lies to keep me hidden behind my pride. Pride puffed me
up so I couldn’t see the truth. Once I realized I had been “hiding”, my eyes
were open to the advice I had been given. When I learned the truth, I repented
and then allowed God to change my heart and replace pride with humility. It was
through this place of humility I could sincerely say “I need help” or ‘’I was
wrong.”
Only by laying down my pride could I ask for and receive
advice. Now, after I receive advice from a trusted friend, I check it against
the word of God. If the advice given doesn’t align with God’s word, I reject it
and continue to search for Godly advice and wisdom through the scriptures.
Proverbs 13:10 (NIV) Where there is strife, there is pride, but
wisdom is found in those who take advice.
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