Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket. Proverbs 25:11 (NLT)
I’m hitting a milestone this year when my birthday rolls around. To me one of the perks to getting older is I am sure that I have more questions now than I did when I was a child. I know I do not know everything but – I have also grown into some wisdom to be careful about who I listen to. So who do I listen to?
The Sunday School answer would be “God” or “Jesus.” And that is absolutely, positively true. However, God made me and knows my weaknesses so He has provided all that I need, including wise counsel. My part of it is to seek those He has chosen, not just anyone who offers advice, be it from a pulpit or an easy chair in my home.
Jesus had many followers. There are some places in the gospels that tell me there were 5,000 or 4,000. Jesus had only 12 disciples. He explained parables to His disciples. He didn’t explain them to the followers. Jesus had only three who went with Him for the really good stuff like raising a young girl from the dead or seeing Him transfigured on a mountain as He chatted with Moses and Elijah. And then when Jesus needed wise counsel, He went alone to the mountain or to the garden to seek His Father, didn’t He? His example tells me something about how many I should have around me.
Ask God to send the people He has chosen to bring His counsel and wisdom to you. God knows how important this is and He will do it! But do not be surprised if He sends an unexpected choice. God may not send you someone who will always agree with you or believes every doctrine that you do. He may send you someone who will stretch you and encourage you to think and go to God’s Word to study. Yes, this person will also love the LORD and serve Him and seek His wisdom for himself/herself.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
And when God sends that one or two who bring His wisdom, know that it is a gift worth more than gold or silver. They are a precious gift that deserves thanksgiving to the Father who loves so extravagantly. As I am writing this, I have tears of joy for those He has chosen for me. I am so very blessed.
Friends Forever written & sung by Michael W Smith
