People tend to give us their advice and a piece of their mind even if we don’t ask for it. Whether we ask for advice or counsel or it’s simply given to us without a request, we might do well to follow some guidelines to seek and know if what we’re hearing is wise counsel or not. I’ll share with you some of my guidelines to help you think about what you’d like yours to be:
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
I’m a Christian, so while many people – Christian or not – have good thoughts and insights, I’d like to be sure there is a biblical foundation to what I’m hearing and that I’m following God’s word. A financial advisor might not be a believer, and be an excellent advisor. In a case like this, I need to have the biblical foundation to discern if they’re advice is good to follow. I want to follow honest (and biblical) principles.
IN GOD’S WORD DAILY
I’d like to know that the person giving me advice is in God’s word daily. This person will (if in the word consistently) and should know truth from lies, being able to recognizing the right next steps and hopefully desiring to lead me in that way. I want someone who won’t compromise God word and who is unafraid to stand firm. I don’t want “off the cuff” advice for it will likely fall on deaf ears. I can heed it but I might not take it! I’d like this someone to be making biblical, smart, savvy, and wise decisions for themselves. If they are living life without consulting God, willfully sinning and saying what they’re doing is Okay, well, that is not one from whom I’ll take advice – ever.
PRAYING FOR ME
It would mean a lot to me if they were praying daily in general and praying for me regarding this counsel. By them taking the time to do that before giving an answer would be very meaningful to know. I would know that they cared and were invested in the process.
WALKING ME THROUGH
It’s important to me that someone who will invest into my life through what they think is important would also make the effort to walk with me through the more troubling or challenging things of life. The person willing to step into my life (and possibly the mess that there is) makes me realize their sincerity and desire for my good.
I’m sure this entire list isn’t full proof. I’m sure I’ve given advice that I wished I could take back and I’m sure I’ve received advise I should (or shouldn’t) have acted upon. These simply help outline for me the most important things I look for as I hear from others.
WHAT WOULD YOUR LIST LOOK LIKE AS YOU RECEIVE COUNSEL?