2 Chron 10:6
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 the people?” ESV
- Solomon the wisest man in all the world didn’t rest on his wisdom alone. He gathered others around him that would give him wise counsel. The wise know they need advice. It is the fools who want to do things all on their own and think they need no advice. Prov 1:5, Ecc 4:10
1 Cor 9:27
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. NKJV
- Matt 23:3; Lord help me to do all that I know to do. It is so easy to give others wise advice. Yet it can sometimes be hard to just do it yourself. You know what you would tell someone else if they were in your spot, but it can be hard to do. Many things are easier said than done. Lord, help me to do what I know. Help me to bring my obedience to the level of my knowledge. Help me lord to never have a double standard or hypocrisy in my life. Prov 3:5-6; Matt 23:3;
- 1 Cor 11:1; 1 Thess 1:5; James 3:1
1 Kings 8:61
61 Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.” ESV
- Later in life Solomon himself would have done well to listen to his own advice. I think most of the time we are fully capable of giving ourselves great advice. If someone else came to us with the same problem we would give them good advice the trick is both in doing, and making your choice before the heat of a moment filled with emotion. 2 Chron 12:14
- What areas are you not taking your own advice? “I know I really should….” “I probably shouldn’t… But” Why is it hard to take your own advice?
- Are you making choices ahead of time or do you wait until emotions are high and you can no longer think straight.
Prov 8:33
Hear instruction and be wise, And do not refuse or neglect it. AMP
- One of the fist steps to wisdom is listening. Are you listening? I suppose that the search for wisdom is done mostly with ones mouth shut. We do not learn much while we are talking. We apparently undervalue the ability to ask, wisdom is found in listening to answers.
- Vs 6 & 10, 36; Prov 22:6; 29:26
Joshua had done so good about seeking God up until the below story. God had told Israel to wipe out all the inhabitants in the promise land and people showed up pretending to be from far away out of the promise land when really they lived close. God would have told Josh had he asked, but instead he was fooled by lies. It seemed locical in his analytical brain that they were from far away due to the way their food looked so he didn’t think he needed to ask God.
Even if something makes logical sense, you still MUST seek God’s counsel so that you are not deceived. Just because something is a good idea does not mean it is a God idea.
Josh 9:12-15
12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
NKJV
…Josh 9:22-23
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying,’We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves — woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
NKJV
Amanda Vander Klok
Proverbs 15:32
32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
- Prov 22:6
- If you avoid instruction, and rebuke you rob yourself and your future. You will repeat your folly because you are a fool. Prov 26:11