Follow Wise Advice

Verse of the day: Ruth 3:6, So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.

There is much to be said about someone who is willing to seek advice from the right person(s). I do not believe that I have to remind any of us today that the first place, and Person, we need to turn to when we need advice is God and His Word. At least I would hope that to be the case. Nonetheless, when we go to the Lord in prayer and seek for answers in His Word, it is also fine to seek the advice of others. However, this is where we sometimes go sideways. Where, and from whom, do we seek advice? Do we seek it from those who are wiser than us in the things of God? Do we go to our peers? Do we turn to the world? One of the saddest things I hear, as a Christian, is when another Christians tells me that they have gone to a palm reader, tarot card reader or fortune teller to receive guidance or advice on a life matter. I will be straightforward and blunt. No born again child of God has any business whatsoever involving themselves with such demonic activity. Period. The command to not be unequally yoked applies to instances of advice seeking as well. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 clearly says, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” By the same token, stay away from false teachers. They will tell you what they know you want to hear, for their own profit and self-exaltation. 2 Peter 2:1-3 warns, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” As God’s people, we also have no business going to the world for advice, as it offers no godly solutions. Psalm 1:1-3 tells us, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Ruth was wise in obeying the counsel of her mother-in-law who was knowledgeable in the ways of the Israelites and the laws concerning the kinsman redeemer. Ruth could have easily sought the advice of someone her own age, as she interacted with the other servant women, or could have approached it in the manner she thought best, even though she knew little about the culture, compared to her mother-in-law. In 1 Kings 12, after the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam made a grave mistake when the people approached him about easing up on the burdensome service Solomon had put on them. Rehoboam initially took the proper steps to seek advice from the elders, who gave him wise advice. However, in his determination to do and hear what he wanted, he then went to his peers for advice. He unwisely chose the advice of his peers and the result was that the kingdom was split in two (the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah). We must be careful about how we go about making life decisions. The priority is always to choose that which will bring God the greatest glory and that which will not bring a blemish to our testimony as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. We may not always like the answers we get from God and godly advisers, but in the end following God’s way will yield the best results. The path God chooses for us when we seek proper advice may not be easy, but it is simple…trust Him and obey.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).