Careful Counsel

I remember getting my grandfather (aka Pappy) a card on his birthday that said, “The older I get the smarter you get”.   I realize how valuable the advice of others who are more experienced and sometimes more educated on a subject than I am.  I try hard to avoid people who “have all the answers”.

I spent some time in another season of life studying the field of counseling. I have also spent hours in counseling when I was navigating a divorce that took place years ago. I remember making the comment that I learned more about counseling when I needed counsel than when I was studying the techniques in the classroom.

As I begin reading about Solomon’s son who succeeded him as king, it is obvious that as glowing and descriptive the previous chapters were about Solomon and his splendor and his wisdom, he obviously made it hard on the people he ruled over. After his son Rehoboam becomes king, the people asked for and were granted a meeting with him. Check this out….

³ The leaders of Israel summoned him, and Jeroboam and all Israel went to speak with Rehoboam. ⁴ “Your father was a hard master,” they said. “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us. Then we will be your loyal subjects.”

⁵ Rehoboam replied, “Come back in three days for my answer.” So the people went away.

⁶ Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. “What is your advice?” he asked. “How should I answer these people?”

⁷ The older counselors replied, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.”

⁸ But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men who had grown up with him and were now his advisers. (2 Chronicles 10:3-8 NLT)

There have been times in my life when I rejected the counsel of others because it wasn’t what I wanted to hear.  I have even prayed to God for guidance only to ignore His input.  I think it’s wise to hear other people’s perspective and counsel. They will often see something that I’m missing.

Seeking wise counsel means I need to discern whom to seek counsel from.

Seeking wise counsel means that I need to slow down and listen.

Seeking wise counsel can make me appear wise.

I believe people who seek counsel are stronger leaders than those who “know it all”.

I believe seeking wise counsel is a sign of great strength, not weakness.

I will seek the Counsel of God’s Word. I will seek the counsel of others who have been there and done that. I will seek the counsel of people more experienced than me.  I have learned more by seeking wise counsel from others than all of my formal education combined.

Pressing On!

Dwayne