Advice

"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure." (Prov 11:14)

"The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." (Prov 12:15)

"Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance." (Prov 20:18)

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." (Prov 15:22)

"Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel."

• The idea of getting advice is emphasised again and again in Scriptures
• Advice helps us succeed, and makes victory sure
• The more advisers the better! (Prov 11:14, Prov 15:22)
• Good friends will give us "earnest" advice, that is, sincere, helpful and for our own good, rather than for any selfish motives
• Q. When you give advice, is your advice "earnest"?

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Tim 4:3);

• Advice is not looking around until you find someone who says what you want to hear
• If you disagree with advice, try to find out why that person is giving that advice. Try to both keep talking until you are both settled and in agreement. However be realistic - agreement is not always possible

"Sometimes people get the idea that seeking advice means asking for permission. If that is the way those you disciple think, you should help them correct their view. A discipler is not someone who gives another permission to do anything. A discipler is one who offers counsel based on his or her knowledge of the Scriptures, the people involved and the circumstances. It is up to the disciple to consider that input, be prayerful and make a decision out of his or her own convictions. Those who think in terms of getting permission not only view the situation wrongly, but they may tend to blame the advisor if things do not go well." (Gordon Ferguson, p164 "Discipling" (1997)

• Advice is not getting permission
• We are free not to take advice given
• However, we should be prayerful, considerate and humble.
• Q. Why do you disagree with the advice given? Try to be specific

" The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:"1 Cor 2:15

• Each Christian makes their own judgements
• These judgements cover "all things"
• "Not subject to any man's judgement" means that no-one has the right to say that another Christian is "in sin" or prideful for failing to follow advice (in matters of opinion)
• It is sin to refuse to follow direction if what you are doing is a violation of Scripture and against the commands of God
• However Paul's point here is that none of us are subject to the judgement of people. Rather each one of us is subject to the judgement of God and to the commands of His Word (John 12:47-48, Heb 4:12-13)
• Romans 14 makes it clear that there are all kinds of areas in which Christians were expected to make up their own minds and to let their consciences be trained.
• Moreover, it is the individual repsonsibility of those who are "strong", to bear with the "failings of the weak" (Rom 15:1) and not to judge (Rom 14:1-23)

"But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Heb 5:14)

• God's desire is not to set up a system or church whereby people become dependent on those "over them in the Lord"
• Rather, his goal was for every diciple to become God-reliant, self-sufficient, fully mature and capable to distinguish between good and evil
• Real spiritual maturity cannot take place in an environment in which someone is merely "following the advice" of other Christians in the Church

"Unless the Scriptures clearly settle an issue, we must realise that advice is only advice, even though we are trying to base it on biblical principles. The less specifically a topic is covered in the Bible, the more room for variations in its interpretation... As those who advise others, we will quite often share our opinions and the spiritual reasoning behind them, but be compelled to leave room for alternate opinions. Raising doubts about the right or wrong of biblically clear teaching is bad, but so is binding others by your opinions in areas where the Bible has not clearly taught the point in question." ( Gordon Ferguson, p164-165 &quotDiscipling" (1997))

"Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." (1 Cor 7:25-28)

• Paul here is giving advice, and not "a command from the Lord"
• Still, Paul does not argue that those who go against his "judgement call" are in sin. Nor is he the least bit critical on those who fail to obey his advice
• On the contrary, Paul makes it clear that it is absolutely permissible for each one of us to make up his own mind
• Paul was an apostle of the Lord, yet not even he went so far as to criticise people that failed to follow his advice. As he makes clear,"they have not sinned"

"What should be done when one being discipled cannot agree with the advice given by his discipler? No one should ever be, or even feel, boxed in. Our loyalty and allegiance is first and foremost to God." ( Gordon Ferguson, p169, &quotDiscipling" (1997)) ,/p>

"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God ?"(John 5:39-44)

• Pleasing God, not man, is what matters!

"Consider the following questions in being prepared to lead and follow in a spiritual manner:
In giving advice and direction, is your approach to teach the other person how to think, or to do their thinking for them?

• How can someone not follow advice without being independent and/or rebellious?
• What is your response when the advice you give is not followed?
• Are you comfortable letting someone you disciple know that you are open to bringing someone else in if they have trouble with your advice?
• What is the correct way to handle such an appeal as the one leading? As the one being led?

Your answers to these questions will tell you a great deal about your leadership, your followership and your heart! Don't take them lightly! ( Gordon Ferguson, p168-169 "Discipling" (1997))

• Remember, it is possible not to follow advice. However this should not be done purely for reasons of independence or rebelliousness. Analyse your own heart in this

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

• True wisdom comes from God
• We need only pray and ask!
• Particularly when we disagree with advice, it is important we pray it through