Seek Advice

Seek Advice

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Prov. 12:15. “The righteous guides his neighbor; but the way of the ungodly leads him astray.” Prov. 12:26.

You will become like the person with whom you associate, whose words you like to hear, and whose advice you follow. Therefore you ought not to listen to what a fool says about anything if you wish to become wise.

Do not consult with a lazy person about how you can get much work done in a short period of time. Do not ask the merchant whether he thinks it pays to buy his merchandise. Do not listen to a miserly person’s judgment concerning generosity. Do not consult a cowardly, fearful, and spineless person about using the sword of the Spirit, about how to wage war. Do not seek guidance on the way of mercy from a cold, hard-hearted man. Do not ask those who persistently use every possible opportunity to be noticed about humility. Do not ask a person who uses all his artifice and diligence to protest about the advantage of being submissive.

Do not believe a woman who is proud, displaying a domineering attitude in the assembly when she interprets 1 Timothy 2:11 and 12, nor a talented, self-assured, extremely well-read, modern woman when she is to air her opinion eloquently concerning 1 Corinthians 11:1-10, 1 Timothy 2:14 and 15, and 1 Peter 3:1-6.

Do not ask a “Prayer Chapel” man about 1 John 3:6 or a Pentecostal about 1 John 1:8. It would be just as foolish to ask the “priest” after a Bible study about 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 or a Methodist about Galatians 1:10 or a Baptist about 1 Corinthians 1:14; and you would hardly be encouraged unto perfect obedience to the Word if you asked a “Salvation Army” member about how far you needed to abide by Proverbs 15:8. Neither ask someone who is well spoken of by everyone what Jesus could mean by what He said in Luke 6:26.

If you seek peace and meekness, do not inquire of a bad-tempered and impetuous person. Do not seek consolation from your doubting friend if you are troubled by unbelief and doubt, for that is just as insane as if you drank poison so you could live long.

If you are saved from being a slave to intoxicating drink, then do not rent a room from a drunkard. If you have been plagued by unchastity toward your own sex, then do not let hospitality move you to invite someone to share a bed with you. If you are inclined to speak about others’ mistakes, then do not choose a girl for a friend who could be well-suited to be the president of a backbiting club.

If you desire to learn to be quiet and speak at the appropriate time, then converse with people who can speak when no one else knows what to say, but who can also be quiet when others are like the roaring sea. If you desire always to be of good courage, then stay away from people whose courage often goes down to zero. It is dangerous for every weak person to keep company with such people. Such people are very much like a binge drinker. Even if he leads you forward on the “way of courage” when he is sober, he will drag you seven steps backward on the way of discouragement on his next binge.

Do not ask people who live in luxury what Paul could possibly mean by the great gain that he recommends in 1 Timothy 6:6.

Therefore: Seek advice according to your need, but seek it with understanding and not thoughtlessly! For it also goes badly when you act thoughtlessly.