5 A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; 6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 24:5–6, NKJV)
The strength of godly wisdom is mightier that muscle and sinew. By wisdom God powerfully created the world (Prov. 8:22-31; Jeremiah 10:12). Wisdom prompts us to fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Job 28:28; Proverbs 9:10). We are wise to seek counsel from those who fear God, who hate evil, and who have our best interests at heart. Multiply such counselors and you will find safety in their guidance. The wisdom of the world is empty and foolish and gives no thought to the will of the Lord (1 Corinthians 2:6; 3:19). When faced with decisions that affect your life and eternally, whose advice do you trust? Those who live for the world and hold its values and goals, or those who fear God and value the blessings that come from following His word? Choose your counselors wisely.
Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. (Psalm 119:24, NKJV)
The best adviser in the world is the word of God. It holds the answers to all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). It lights the path to salvation from sin and shows the way to eternal life (Psa. 119:105; Rom. 1:16-17). The testimonies of God give wise counsel to the young and to the old. God’s word gives guidance on how to strengthen faltering marriages and how to protect strong ones. It teaches us practical ways to avoid many of life’s troubles by forming good friendships. And, the list goes on and on. Why then do so few people turn to the Bible and follow God’s counsel? When all the excuses are given, the bottom line may well be because so few “delight” in God’s testimonies. They do not wish to bend to the counsel contained in God’s word. They do not take pleasure in God’s word because they take no pleasure in conforming to it. When one has little faith in God, he puts little stock in God’s word, regardless of the great counsel it contains. Let us accept the counsel of God’s word and bend our will and our lives to it. God’s counsel never leads us astray.
Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. (Proverbs 15:22, NKJV)
Just as there is safety in numbers when facing imminent danger, the wise person knows the value of seeking sound, godly advice when planning a course of action. Do you only seek for counselors who will justify what you have already decided to do? Or, do you find those who will give you a balanced assessment, grounded in truth and wisdom? The most important counsel to seek is God’s word and those who know it. Access this valuable resource. The counsel of godly men and women who know and live God’s word in invaluable as you plan your life. Godly counsel, anchored in God’s word, will equip you for success.
“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17)
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