God created us to need other people in order to prosper in our lives. Just like our fingerprints, our gifts and abilities are uniquely our own. One of the best examples of the infinite wisdom of God is creation itself. We are each created to be loved and known personally by our Creator and to be cared for by him. God directs our paths, and he often directs our paths to intersect with others.

There are people God will bring into our lives for his unique purpose and some who will help us fulfill his calling in our lives. Each of us has wisdom to give as well as a need to receive wisdom from others. God’s word reminds us that we need to listen to those around us in order to gain the wisdom we need for our future. 

This month we will consider the many ways God uses others to guide us to a greater wisdom for our lives and a greater wisdom for our souls as well. Good advice and careful instruction provide wisdom. 

Are we willing to listen?

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” —Proverbs 11:14

A lot of people are able to give advice, but whose advice should you follow? The proverb teaches us that if we live our lives based solely on our own abilities, at some point we will fall. No one is created to know everything or with the ability to be right in every situation.

We need advice from others if we hope to gain a diverse and well-rounded understanding of our circumstances. How do we surround ourselves with people who will offer us wise counsel?

Seeking counsel from experts who write for the internet is common these days. Their advice comes instantly with one quick line typed into our computers. Our presumed “safety” is often looking at the number of stars, the comments, or the open rate of an article.

We can gain good advice on the internet, but “God advice” will require another level of thinking. When it comes to spiritual matters, we need to seek counselors who understand their need for God’s unique wisdom.

There is safety in the advice that is the direct result of a faithful prayer. There is wisdom in the advice that is born from a knowledge of God and his word. One of the goals of life should be to surround ourselves with people who can counsel us with good advice and God’s wisdom.

Good advice and careful instruction provide wisdom. It’s important to consult the experts, but it’s equally important to submit their advice to the perfection of God’s teaching. We should surround ourselves with counselors who understand our need for God’s wisdom because they can offer his good advice and careful instruction.