Seeking Wise Counsel

I recently heard a sermon about the wisdom in seeking wise counsel. This seemed like a good idea for most of us. Not many are born with great wisdom in handling the difficult situations we face in our lives. The good news is that God offers wise counsel to all and its free. But His wisdom is only good if we are willing to seek it (Proverbs 2:1-8). God’s wisdom can’t bring hope to those who don’t think they need it, or those who know they need it but won’t seek it, or those who know they need it and seek it, but then ignore it. Unfortunately a lot of people look for their counsel in the current sages of today like Oprah Winfrey, or Dr. Phil, or Judge Judy, or Warren Buffett. These are influential people, but if we want true counsel we need to look to God for it.

The preacher talked about a tale of three kings in the old testament who handle counsel in different ways. First it was King Xerxes in the book of Esther (1:10-20). He sought counsel, but from the wrong place. He had too much wine at a banquet and asked his wife to parade before his all male party. When she refused he became angry and sought advice, but from the wrong place. He listened to his cohorts and they were looking out for their own interest and not what would be in the interest of his wife. The second was King Rehoboam in II Chronicles 10:1-16. He sought counsel from the elders who advised him to handle the people with kindness and they would serve him forever, but he chose to ignore their counsel and listened to the young men who had grown up with him. They told him to treat the people harshly and he paid the price for that unwise choice. The third was King David who had sinned greatly in his desire for Bathsheba. When his wise friend Nathan told him a story of what he had done, he listened to him and repented of what he had done.

These stories help us see how the use of wise counsel or unwise counsel can greatly impact our lives. If we will seek the wise counsel of God by reading his word every day and open our hearts and minds to it, we will not only live better, but may be able to be a voice of wisdom for someone else who needs help.
—Jim Keevert