HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 28
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Adversity continued
• MAT T H E W 1 1 :2 8 | “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and
I will give you rest.”
• 1 P E T E R 5 :7 | Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Advice See also Decisions; Will of God; Wisdom
What should I do? This is a commonly asked question. In an age of conflicting claims
and confusing directions, many search for wise counsel. Maybe that’s why counselors
are in such great demand and advice columnists are in every newspaper. There is a
critical difference, however, between wise counsel and misleading advice that leads to
destruction. Of all wisdom, God’s wisdom is the best, for his is given with a perspective
of ultimate truth and eternity. Who among us would not like to talk with someone who
knows everything that will happen tomorrow and every tomorrow to come? We would
do well to seek advice more often from the sources of divine wisdom: God and his Word.
Where do I look for good advice?
• 1 S A MU E L 8 :6 | Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance.
• J O B 1 2 :1 3 | “But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding
are his.”
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• PSA L M 3 2 :8 | The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will
advise you and watch over you.”
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• J A ME S 1 :5 | If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will
not rebuke you for asking.
• PSA L M 1 1 9 :1 0 5 | Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
• C O L O S S I A NS 3 :1 6 | Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach
and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.
Seek advice from God through prayer and reading his Word, the Bible.
• J O H N 1 6 :1 3 | “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not
speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”
God gave us his Son as our Counselor; both Jesus’ life and words counsel us. God also
gave us the Holy Spirit, who is called “the Counselor.” He will stay with you at all times to
give you wisdom and guide you in any circumstance.
• G E NE S I S 6 :9 | Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the
time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.
• 1 K I NG S 1 2 :8 -9 | But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked
the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers.
“What is your advice?” he asked them.
Family and friends have the potential to be excellent sources of advice as they often know
us and our circumstances. However, be wary that kinship and association are not the basic
criteria for good advice nor are they a guarantee for godly advice.
• T I T U S 1 :1 5 | Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure.
Seek advice from those who are faithful, godly, honest, and trustworthy. They can be
counted on to give you counsel that comes from God’s Word.
Why do I need advice from others? Why can’t I just rely on my own wisdom?
• PR O V E R B S 1 2 :1 5 | Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. (See note
on page 568.)
Wisdom is the recognition of our own inadequacies. Foolishness is thinking we have none.
It is wise to recognize our limitations rather than to discover them at the wrong time.
• PR O V E R B S 2 5 :1 1 | Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
There are few things as valuable as wise and timely advice.