Safe!

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 7 – 8; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)

Scripture Memorization for June – Great Commission Verses

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 121

Read a great article by Brother John Goetsch – “Uncola Christianity – 7 Ingredients To Add To Your Faith“

Read the “0718 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this passage – “The Richest Man on Earth“; “Pride“

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 24:6)

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22 KJV)

It seems like just good common sense, but the verses above are perhaps among the most neglected principles in the Bible. Getting good advice before making any important decision is absolutely essential if you are going to be happy, and achieve success in life. However, most people launch into decisions unadvisedly. Why is that? I believe it is because people usually have their hearts set, and their minds made up on a matter, which causes them to not really want to hear what anyone else has to say. I have seen people make some of the dummest decisions in life, convinced that they were making a great move, and then later deeply it. I have made a few of these mistakes myself.

Another mistake that I have observed people making is that they will “shop” for counsel. These folks know that they should get advice from others, but they purposely go to people whom they know will tell them what they want to hear. They surround themselves with “yes men”. This is just as dangerous as not asking for counsel. There is a man in my church who is not afraid to tell me when he disagrees with a decision that I am about to make. This man is invaluable to me. He keeps me straight. There have been times that I had my heart set on doing something that just would have been a bad move, but this man counselled me in the other direction. I have to admit, there have been times when this made me angry, but I know that overall, I have made better decisions because of this man’s input.

I believe there are a few principles that you and I can put to practice in our lives that will help us make good decisions:

1  Look to the Word – make sure that God does not advise against the thing that you want to do in the Word of God.

2  Pray – before you make a decision, ask the Lord. It may be a good thing, but it may not be a good thing for you, or it may not be the right time.

3  Get counsel – Ask the advice of some wise people in your life who will be willing to be brutally honest with you. Your parents, and your pastor are good people to include in your cabinet of counsellors.

4  Don’t rush into anything. Don’t make any rash decisions. Quick decisions are usually bad ones. Take the time to go through the process, and you will find that you will avoid the tragedies that so many face as a result of poor decision making.

“Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.” (Proverbs 20:18)