“Don’t do anything stupid,” my mom shouted as I headed out the door. Why would she say that? Because I was often inclined to do something stupid!

In Proverbs 15:22, we read, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed” (ESV). There is an entire industry of people offering advice these days. You can seek out financial advisers, legal advisers, medical advisers, or psychiatric advisers if you are inclined to pay for it. More often than not, we seek advice from people we know, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Typically, we search for references and reviews before engaging their services. We’d like to know if they have a good track record.

Rehoboam succeeded King Solomon as king of Israel. During the coronation process, the people who were gathered were whining about how hard King Solomon made them work. That’s surprising because all of the hard work was done by the Canaanites who were left in the land (1 Kings 9:17–23). “Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, ‘How do you advise me to answer this people?’ And they said to him, ‘If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever’” (1 Kings 12:6–7).

Solomon’s wisdom was known throughout the world, so you could be confident in the advice of his advisers, no?

“But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him” (1 Kings 12:8).

We all know how that worked out. Rehoboam had to jump in his chariot and flee back to Jerusalem to avoid being stoned, as Adoram (who was in charge of collecting tribute) was.

Here are a few things I’ve learned over five decades of walking with the Lord.

First, look at the track record of the individual you are considering asking for advice. Do they practice what they preach? Do they say one thing but do another? I remember a Peanuts cartoon in which Charlie Brown offered advice to Linus about standing up to Lucy but then didn’t live it out. When Linus asked Charlie Brown why, Charlie replied, “It’s easier to preach than to practice!”

Second, do they possess humility? True wisdom comes from above. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5–6). A humble man will seek God’s wisdom over his own.

Third and finally, do they possess a godly temperament? An individual who is easily angered or has unresolved anger will not be a wise counselor according to Scripture. “A man of quick temper acts foolishly” (Proverbs 14:17). “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge” (Proverbs 14:7). To live a godly life, we need godly counsel. That counsel should come from someone who has, by their life and ministry, demonstrated they are wise in the ways of the Kingdom of God.

So, don’t be a Rehoboam! Seek wise counsel from someone who lives a life consistent with their preaching.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!