WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 27, 2024
TOPIC: FOLLOW GODLY ADVICE
BY T. O. BANSO
“A godly man gives good advice, but a rebel is destroyed by lack of common sense” (Proverbs 10:21 Living Bible).
Godly advice is one of the ways God communicates with His children. It could come from parents, pastors, mature believers, mentors, friends, etc. Godly advice from others will help you in fulfilling your destiny or assignment. Proverbs 24:3-6 says, “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. A wise man is mightier than a strong man. Wisdom is mightier than strength. Don’t go to war without wise guidance; there is safety in many counselors” (Living Bible).
Don’t be wise in your eyes (Proverbs 3:7a). Get godly advice from others. What you don’t know, you don’t know! “Get all the advice you can and be wise the rest of your life” (Proverbs 19:20 Living Bible). Only fools think they know it all. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15 New King James Version). Also, Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success” (New Living Translation).
You are wise if you benefit from other people’s godly wisdom. Remember I said what you don’t know, you don’t know. Pay attention to and follow godly advice from your parents. This is very important, particularly for those still under parental authority. God uses parents to help their children make the right decisions or choices in life although, in some cases, some parents, mislead their innocent children. Christian parents understand how important their role is in their children’s lives, and don’t approach this carelessly, especially, regarding advice on direction or choices in life. They know that any wrong advice could have serious consequences on their destinies.
Parents should give their children godly advice with the help of the Holy Spirit, not based on sentiments, and children should follow godly advice from their parents. Proverbs 1:8-9 says, “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck” (New King James Version).
Children who rejected their parents’ godly advice in the past are regretting it today. Some of them thought they knew more than their parents but they know better now! After rejecting their parents’ godly advice, they appeared to be right but things changed after some time, and they were proved wrong. Follow the godly advice of your parents. Don’t be wise in your eyes.
In His sovereignty, God sometimes uses parents who are non-believers to help their children make the right choices until they become responsible for their lives. However, even if you have to disobey your parents because their position is contrary to the Word of God or God’s will for you, don’t disrespect them. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12 New King James Version). Deuteronomy 5:16 says a similar thing. The New Testament refers to this commandment (Matthew 15:4; 19:19; Mark 7:10; 10:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2-3).
You can also receive godly advice from your Pastor. Sometimes you need your Pastor’s advice on some things just as he needs godly advice from others he believes in. Some church members wait too late before they seek their Pastor’s advice. Don’t do so.
Seeking advice or counsel from your Pastor does not mean depending on him to make all decisions for you or be involved in all your decisions. Genuine servants of God won’t even do that. They don’t want to control your life. They already have enough things they are dealing with and respect your right to make what you consider the best decisions for you as a child of God. Neither will they force you to accept their advice. Even when you seek pastoral advice, note that you are still responsible for decision-making about your life.
The New Living Translation renders Proverbs 12:15 thus: “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Pastoral counsel has saved many people from wrong decisions. Don’t ignore it but be sure that your Pastor is a man of the Spirit who won’t give you advice contrary to God’s Word and will. Those who receive godly pastoral advice but reject it will live with the consequences of their decisions.
Follow godly advice. The Prophet Nathan told Bathsheba, “If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice” (1 Kings 1:12 New Living Translation). Note the phrase “Follow my advice.” Nathan gave Bathsheba the advice that made her son, Solomon, become Israel’s king when Adonijah, David’s older son, had perfected plans to make himself the king of Israel. If Bathsheba had rejected Nathan’s advice, the kingdom wouldn’t have been turned over to Solomon. Adonijah would have reigned as king and probably killed Solomon and anyone he considered a threat to his reign (1 Kings 1:11-14).
Also, Ruth followed the advice of Naomi, her mother-in-law, which led to her getting married again (Ruth 2:19-23). If she had not, she wouldn’t have married Boaz and her name would not have been recorded in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16).
Proverbs 10:21 says, “A godly man gives good advice, but a rebel is destroyed by lack of common sense” (Living Bible). Don’t make ungodly people your adviser. Verse 31 says, “The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off” (New Living Translation).
Follow godly advice. When God gives you an assignment, you can discuss it with those you believe can give you godly advice in areas you may be having problems with or need advice. Their advice could be useful. The LORD gave Moses the work of building the Tabernacle but gave some people the skills needed for the project (Exodus 35:30-35; 36:1-2). Note that not every piece of advice is from God or godly. The Holy Spirit will help you to know the advice you should follow. Ask Him.
God gave Moses the job of leading the Israelites but his method of judging the people was not helpful to him and the people. Jethro, his father-in-law, taught him how to delegate authority in judging the Israelites to save him from wearing out himself and the people (Exodus 18:13-24). He didn’t force Moses to follow his advice. He left that decision to him to make. Jethro told Moses, “If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace” (Exodus 18:23 New Living Translation). Moses followed his advice. Moses could have rejected Jethro’s advice just because he was the person God gave the assignment to, not Jethro. Moses didn’t do that. He benefited from Jethro’s godly advice. Nobody knows it all.
Follow godly advice. Proverbs 13:14 says the instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death. What will save your life could be godly advice. Proverbs 24:6 also says you shouldn’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers. These many advisers must be godly advisers who will help your plans to succeed. “Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice” (Proverbs 20:18 New Living Translation).
However, Rehoboam rejected godly advice from the elders who stood before or advised his father, Solomon. Instead, he acted on the wrong advice of the young men who had grown up with him. Consequently, the kingdom was divided under him (1 Kings 12).
Not all pieces of advice are godly. That’s why you should be guided by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Don’t follow someone’s advice because you respect him even when his advice is ungodly. You should not honour a man and dishonour God.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: I shall follow godly advice and not be wise in my eyes. Holy Spirit, help me not to mistake ungodly advice for godly advice. I shall not reject godly advice in Jesus’ name.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
