Advice

“A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.”
Proverbs 12:15 CSB

Have you ever had a great idea, and the longer you think it about it and run it around in your head the better it seems to become? But then you start to physically work out the plan and find out it has a lot of weak parts or it was just a bad idea? Or, maybe you started to explain your plan out loud to someone and quickly realized it wasn’t all that good.

Often we tend to look at things only from our perspective and make decisions from our limited vantage point, thinking we have all the information and background we need, when in reality our view point is one dimensional and limited to our experiences. The verse we read from Proverbs 12 tells us that the person “who listens to counsel is wise.” In order to listen to counsel we must have people around us who we can listen to. We need to make a practice of getting around people whose track records and lives prove they have been wise and are living a life with meaning and direction. As Christ followers we need to look for people who are completely sold out to Christ. Then we need to ask them if we can bounce some ideas off them. This phrase from Proverbs reminds me of an old time practice of the Quakers. When a Quaker man or family is about to make a major life change such as a changing jobs, moving, or making a large purchase they would call together some of the older respected folks in the community and ask them if the change or move was a good idea. The older ones would then ask questions to check the motivation and reasons for making the decision. If the life change was beneficial and would be a move of growth, they would encourage them to do it. If it was harmful or selfish, they would discourage it. This process has always intrigued me. Think of the benefits of having wise folks speaking truth into your life, helping you sort out the major issues you face. Now there is a problem with having wise folks speaking into your life; the problem is, they will speak into your life. When they do, we have to choose to respond. It is a difficult thing to place yourself under the direction of others.
Two questions to think about: first, do you have wise people who can speak into your life? Second, are you willing to listen to them when they speak into your life?

-Pastor Tim