Receiving wise advice can be instrumental in fulfilling God’s plans for our lives. And we all need wise advice as we journey through life. We are better together, including seeking out advice from someone wiser than ourselves. Proverbs 12:15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. [1]
I recently read that when George Washington was eleven, his father died, and he began thinking of his life’s direction. Enamored by the British Navy, he soon set his sights on joining. Fortunately, his mother had severe misgivings and urged her son to reconsider his future. George Washington would not become a captain of a ship but the commander in chief of the colonial forces and eventually the President of the United States.
Much of the path of our lives is determined by the input we receive and following wise advice when we receive it. Refusing to heed godly advice places us on shaky ground, which is never the Lord’s plan. Seeking wise counsel is never a sign of weakness, but following it is a sign of godly wisdom.
Esther Received Wise Advice
Esther was a young woman who lived with her cousin Mordecai, who treated her like a daughter. When King Xerxes began a search for a new queen, Esther was one of many women selected as a possibility. Esther had a lovely and beautiful figure, but more importantly, she was a person of character and a child of God. Being Jewish, she was a migrant in a foreign land.
Before entering the king’s realm, Mordecai gave Esther wise advice. Esther 2:10 Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had directed her not to do so. [2] As a Jew, Esther would not have been eligible to be selected as a queen, and there was prejudice against the Jews. Esther heeded the advice given to her by Mordecai and later became queen. The Lord would work through her to save the Jewish people who lived in the Medo-Persian empire.
Discerning Advice
As we discern the advice from others, we need to ask ourselves whether this aligns with God’s word. Only with God’s discernment can we determine if the advice is genuine, honest, and glorifies Him. Seeking wise counsel is a sign of maturity and humility. Learning to be discerning about advice is learning to rely on God’s word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
As good as advice may seem, our trust should always be first in God’s word and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, who will assist us along our life journey. Seeking wise counsel should be the first step in making God-pleasing decisions. But remember, seeking is not enough; we must not only receive wise counsel but implement it.
To learn more about receiving wise advise, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-new-queen
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.