Proverbs 24:6 NLT
So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.
Proverbs 15:22 NLT
Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
Proverbs 11:14 NLT
Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.
Proverbs 24:3-4 NLT
A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
What kind of house are we building for the Lord? We are to be a dwelling place for the very Holy Spirit of the Lord. The Word is not talking about building a physical house, but of things spiritual and unseen. He is not giving us construction advice for a building what will be torn down and destroyed by rot and rust or fire, but the Word gives us instruction in those things that are eternal and spiritual.
And when speaking of nations, are we still thinking of the arbitrary lines established on maps by men, or can we understand those things spiritual and unseen? Didn’t the Jews expect the Messiah to come to earth and rule a nation as a King? But weren’t they trapped in worldly thinking about the things they could see and touch, and blind to things spiritual and unseen?
Do we not understand that Jesus Christ is on the throne at the right hand of God, ruling His mighty Kingdom even now? And do we not understand that His nation is His bride, the body of Christ followers who are surrendered to His authority and bringing His Kingdom to bear against this fallen and corrupted world? Do we not understand that there is a battle and we are on one side or the other – either dead and without faith serving the enemy’s purposes, or walking in repentance by faith and not by sight.
We don’t have to do this battle alone, we have friends and brothers and sisters who are also seeking to bring God honor and glory in their lives. These are our advisors. And if we are seeking His will together and discussing and advising each other and encouraging each other, aren’t we safer from the tricks that our deceitful hearts will play against us? Can’t a wise advisor bring into light the error in our own decisions and reasons and desires?
The question for many of us is, do we want our true desires brought into the light? Are we surrendered and wanting to give up those desires that aren’t seeking God’s will? Or do we think that we can hold onto parts of our life while still claiming that we are surrendered to the Lord?
What do we need to repent of today, Lord?
Is it pride that we believe that we have our own lives under control? Whose control should our lives really be under – ours or yours?
Are we seeking wise counsel from others, involved in accountability with others, involved encouraging and building each other up? Or are we satisfied sitting back and tearing people down in our own minds – saying to ourselves, “Who is wise enough to counsel me? I see them stumble, I can point out their faults, what do they have to teach me?”
Oh, how deep the darkness of pride goes during its fall to the bottom of the pit.
The longer that I walk, the more that I understand how little I grasp. And this is true and can be demonstrated of physical/earthly knowledge as well as those things spiritual. Once I learn one area or topic of physical science, doesn’t it open up a whole new realm of questions if I’m seeking comprehensive understanding of the subject at hand?
How foolish and prideful is it for me to believe that I understand it all, or to expect others to? But how wise is it to share our little crumbs of understanding together, and to weigh it fairly on the scales of truth, and to be transparent and honest and open to listen and receive and share – but most importantly to be willing to change.
How valuable is an interaction like that? How many rocks and traps of the enemy are foiled by wise counsel? How much stronger is a three standed cord than cords standing alone?
So are we seeking wise counsel? Are we sharing and discussing and discerning each others’ crumbs for truth? Are we even an active and alive part of His nation, of His Kingdom, making war against those evil, unseen forces?
Or are we content sitting alone and idle in our jail cell, neither contributing nor listening, neither providing wise counsel nor receiving it, ignoring the weight of our prison chains because we are comfortable with hiding the desires of our hearts from the light of inspection by others?
What desire of mine need to be cast away today, friends? Pride.
I ask you, I beg you. Look into my message, look into my heart. Counsel me in my many areas of daily failure, and Lord, help me to change. I don’t want to fail, but I watch myself fall short each day. Counsel me, you who have understanding of spiritual things, you who are wise in the ways of God.
Or even you who are like me, scrambling and learning, and gobbling up crumbs like a dog at the feet of whatever table I can find wisdom, let’s share together and have a meal. And let’s pray for and seek His knock, so that He will come to sit with us. So that we might be wise by the wisdom that comes from His guidance and His teaching, as He honors us gathering in His name with the glory of His presence. Because it isn’t the wisdom of men that we seek, but the wisdom of God, understanding of those high things that are beyond the grasp of logic and reason, that speak to the heart and that change the world.
Let’s seek wise counsel in each other, friend – that we might discern and know the wise counsel of the Lord.
May the Lord bless you and keep you today, friend. May He walk with you and talk with you and guide your steps today, friend. May His wisdom be yours, may His presence keep you mindful of His ways. May His Kingdom reign be visible in your life today. And may you consider the same prayer for me, friend. And may you share some of your crumbs with me as well. Counsel me so that I will not be proven foolish, so that I will not fall into the traps of the hunter.
I love you, friend. Have a blessed day, beloved.
Harold J. Ballinger 