Advice: If wisdom is the mastery of the art of living according to the ways of God, then receiving good, godly advice and instruction plays a key role in such living. Unfortunately, we often get our backs up when people try to advise us. Too often, we think we know what is best and we do not want insight from others. If we take such an attitude, we are the poorer for it. Proverbs calls us to seek out and listen carefully to good, biblical informed counsel (15:22). Having said this, the wise person considers the source of the advice given (12:5). Some advice is destructive – look to the righteous, those who know scripture well, for insight.
Be willing to receive constructive criticism without becoming defensive (27:5-6). If this is not true of us then we will either lose true friends, or they will stop talking to us of anything important.
A.W. Tozer wrote, “Listen to no man who fails to listen to God.” If we stay in the lane what can we expect?
• Success (15:22) – not always but good counsel helps in most areas of life.
• Gaining understanding (15:32).
• Gaining wisdom (19:20).
Those rejecting good counsel should pay attention to the warning found in 29:1 – “A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.”
