Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalms 1:1, 2
Making major life decisions is something we all do. Whether it’s what job to take or who to marry, we all face important decisions. So the topic of counsel and where to obtain it is critical if we wish to live a full and godly life. As the above scripture states, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.”
counsel: advice; opinion, or instruction, given upon request or otherwise, for directing the judgment or conduct of another; opinion given upon deliberation or consultation (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary).
It’s important that we learn the difference between godly and ungodly counsel, especially when it comes to major decisions. Today there is an unlimited amount of ungodly counsel at our fingertips. If we have a question what do we do?…Google it!
Opposing Viewpoints
When we Google something we are instantly presented with choices and many times different types of counsel. Some of it is godly and some is ungodly. The same is true when we talk to people who feel compelled to share their two cents with us, sometimes it is in line with the Word of God and other times it isn’t. And when you read a book rest assured that there is also an author out there with an opposing viewpoint. So with all this information flooding our minds how do we decide who to listen to?
The Jesus Badge
Myth: If someone quotes Jesus the counsel must be godly.
Fact: Many people quote the Bible and Jesus and give ungodly counsel.
Just because someone quotes Jesus or the Bible does not necessarily mean they are giving sound Biblical advice. Think about the message behind their words and ask yourself, does this line up with God’s Word?
Everyone Else Agrees
First of all, who is everyone else? If it is your co-workers, the news, the Internet, your unsaved rich cousin and the guys at the gym then you may not want to rely on everyone else. And ask yourself, do I want to live like everyone else around me? If you do then disregard this article and continue to take advice from everyone else. But if you want to live an extraordinary life then take counsel from extraordinary people of God.
Godly Counsel
Myth: If I want godly counsel I need to talk to either a pastor or a Christian counselor.
Fact: People who are born again and filled with the Spirit of God are able to give counsel you can trust.
These people may not have an official title like Counselor but they have the wisdom of Christ. What are some of the characteritics of these individuals?
- They love the Lord and love others.
- They have been born again and have the Holy Spirit filling their lives.
- They are characterized by the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.)
- They have the heart of a teacher and are not control freaks.
- They encourage you to not only listen to them but also to hear the Lord for yourself.
So what are your thoughts about this? Do you ever seek or give counsel to others? How do you decide who to listen to and who to ignore?
About Josh Monen
Josh is a Christian entrepreneur who lives in Central Texas with his wife and 4 kids.
Excellent post brother. I especially liked your point that many people quote Jesus or the Bible only to give ungodly counsel. I saw way too much of that when I managed the “Christianity” section when I worked at Barnes and Noble. That section of the bookstore had a lot of excellent godly counsel but mixed in was a lot of horrible stuff that would only introduce falsehood and attempt to lead people astray.
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Thanks Matt. I bet you did see a lot of that at B&N. I remember going in there one time and picking up a new bestseller book called “A New Earth.” I flipped through and noticed that the author, Eckhart Tolle, quoted Jesus frequently. But as I read a little more I could tell this was anything but a Christian book.