Take my Advice and Check It

The advice/self help section at Barnes and Noble or any other major book store, including Christian book stores, is substantial. Giving advice is big business in America. There is an expert ready to give the latest news and information on just about any situation in your life. And Americans want it! Why else would Oprah be the wealthiest woman in our country?

I have been reading the story of Esther in the Old Testament. She was a beautiful young woman who was taken in by King Xerxes as one of his new wives. She is Jewish and has been raised by her uncle Mordecai, a good man. The conflict of the story surrounds an evil advisor to the king, a guy named Haman. Obviously, Xerxes is not an upright fellow either, because he is easily swayed by his own greed and desire for power. Haman convinces Xerxes to declare that the entire Jewish population in his kingdom should be annihilated and their possessions plundered. Xerxes agrees and then he and Haman sit down and have a drink together!

Besides the evil plot by Haman, one real issue here is that Xerxes is seen throughout the book of Esther taking advice from a variety of people, many of whom do not seem to be qualified to give advice.......the king's attendants, advisors (aka "friends").....

Who advises us? Oprah? Yikes.....hope not.

Proverbs is centered around the central theme of wisdom - living life skillfully. Again and again we are encouraged (read:advised) to seek the wisdom of God. How? In chapter 3 the author uses lots of verbs to give some clue on how to do this.

receive my words

treasure my commands

incline your ear to wisdom

apply your heart to understanding

cry out for discernment

lift up your voice for understanding

seek (wisdom) as silver

search for (wisdom) as for hidden treasures

THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the lord gives wisdom.

The chapter continues to explain how wisdom is being stored up and given freely to the upright; how it's pleasant to your soul; how it will preserve you. No negatives to this deal. It's all good.

So, who are you looking to for advice and counsel? Does what they say match up with Scripture? If not, think about Proverbs 14:3. It says:

In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,

But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Take my advice, but check it against the Word.