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Apr 15, 2025 18:00pm

Letters to My Children: Listening to Advice (Part 2)

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To My Children,

In my last letter, we began talking about the reasons Scripture gives for why we should listen to wise counsel and advice. The first reason was the danger of being right in our own eyes. The second was similar: the positive descriptions Proverbs gives of those who listen to wisdom and instruction, and the negative descriptions of those who don’t.

Scripture also talks about the wisdom that is found in an abundance of counselors instead of only listening to yourself or one other person. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.” And Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.” When we isolate ourselves from godly counsel because we only want our desires and don’t want anyone telling us what to do or getting in the way of those desires, Proverbs says we break out against all sound judgment (18:1).

Not only is there safety in many counselors, it is even better if they are older and more experienced than we are. King Rehoboam listened to the advice of all his young friends over the counsel of the learned and advanced-in-years men of the kingdom who had served his father, and he came to ruin (1 Kings 12:1–24)!

Lastly, Proverbs assures us there is great blessing in listening to wise and godly counsel. “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” and keeps you out of trouble (13:14). Wisdom is better than gold and silver (16:16) and is health for your soul (24:13–14). The path of your life will be protected and peaceful (3:1–2), and you will find favor and success in the eyes of God and man (3:4).

So, my children, when you face a situation in your life that requires a decision or action, or you feel unsure what to do about something, seek godly counsel. Don’t try to make the decision on your own based on your feelings. And if an older, wiser, godly person (especially a parent) specifically comes to you about an area of your life they think needs counsel, don’t blow them off or tune them out. Don’t assume you have it all figured out or that you don’t need advice. And never think that you don’t need the Word of the LORD in your life!

There is great wisdom in being humble enough to admit you don’t know everything and that you might need some help making choices. There is great benefit in listening to the counsel of those who have gone before you, who desire for you to live a godly life and skip some of the mistakes they made and have learned from. We were not made to be islands, so don’t go at it alone.

I love you. Grow in godliness and in your love for God.