Listen And Discern

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. (Prov 19:20-21 KJV)

There was a time when the advice of elders was actually listened to. It was not always followed; but, it was at least listened to. The hearer would then decide for themselves whether the advice was good or bad advice for their particular situation. 

Some of us learned some hard lessons by not taking good advice. Sometimes we learned hard lessons by acting on bad advice. We can and should respectfully listen to advice of those who have much more experience than we do; but, then we must also decide whether that advice is good or bad. Just because something appeals to us does not mean that it is going to be good for us. Does the advice fall in line with what the Lord would have us do? Or, does it fall more in line with someone's personal agenda and ego?

Search the word of the Lord. Listen to the counsel of the Lord. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly." (Prov 2:6-7) "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Who Will You Listen To?

And now, my child, listen to me,
   and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her,
   and do not go near the door of her house;
or you will give your honor to others,
   and your years to the merciless,
and strangers will take their fill of your wealth,

   and your labors will go to the house of an alien;

and at the end of your life you will groan,

   when your flesh and body are consumed,
and you say, “Oh, how I hated discipline,

   and my heart despised reproof!

I did not listen to the voice of my teachers

   or incline my ear to my instructors.
Now I am at the point of utter ruin

   in the public assembly.

                            (Prov 5:7-15 NRSV)

Taking the advice from others; learning from their pasts, takes a pretty strong person. Our nature tends to make us want to do things our way. We'd rather not listen to teachers, or parents, or anyone that God has put in authority over us. We'd rather do what pleases us than what pleases God.

But, we are reminded in the book of Proverbs not to be following in the ways of those who do not follow the way of the Lord. Do not be following the advice who will lead you away from the Lord to a point of utter ruin. Do not follow those who will lead you away from "The Way." Rather, follow those who God has appointed to teach you. 

Do not listen to those who would lead you away from God. They do so in order to justify their own selfish existence. They do so for their own benefit. Incline your ear to those who would show you "The Way" in which to go. 

Be careful who you listen to! Be careful who you follow!

God's Peace - Pr. J 

 

Listening To Advice

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Prov 12:15 NIV

Not all advice is good advice. Just because it feels good doesn't mean it is good. It is painful to watch someone whom we care about following the advice of those who are lost and hitting bottom themselves. It is difficult to witness anyone intentionally following those who are going down a path that leads to destruction.

The truth is that there is very little that we can do about it. We cannot make them change directions. We can give them advice as to way the Lord would have them go; but, often, they will not listen until they learn in a very hard way what it means to truly be lost and alone when one has chosen to follow in the ways of the world and have turned their backs on God.

The one thing that we can do is to pray for them; pray without ceasing and may the Lord, our God open their hearts and minds that they might listen to Him and follow in The Way.

God's Peace - Pr. J