Right Adice

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

RIGHT ADVICE

Prov 15:22

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

NIV

It might be thought we should gather the best minds of men and seek their advice before we set out on a plan of action, or for that matter a course for our life. Perhaps this may be why so many have financial advisers. But it is clear that any advice of men is clearly just that, advice from men. Yes, there are Godly men who can assist in the exploration of the word of God in our efforts to live in accordance with the will of God. But the counsel who supersedes all counsel is that counsel of God. Yet this proverb seems to point to the counsel of many advisers before setting out on a plan which has been determined by the one seeking the counsel. This may be easy for some and not so easy for others. Those who are not sure as to what they should do might find a certain comfort in having advice from others, while those who are headstrong and what we may consider even a bit stubborn might not seek such advice of men. What we do know is advice is surely just that advice. It is not intended for direction or governance. It is merely counsel to aid the one seeking it in making the final plan of action. Each person must still take the responsibility of their own plan of action, or plan for their life. Each person must account for their own plan of action or plan for their life. We cannot say our plan failed because my advisors told me I should do whatever. We might be able to say our plan was successful because we have great counsel, but yet it was still our plan. It would seem peculiar for a person to live his life always seeking advice at every turn. Perhaps this speaks only to certain plans, special plans, such as a king would make in preparation for war, or a man would make in preparation for marriage, not that the two have anything in common. Yet it does make sense that if we are going to set about making some sort of plan of action to accomplish a certain task, that it would be wise to sit down with others who might have some experience in the matter, or insight into what God’s word has to say about it. But we also must recognize the greatest counsel is within God’s word and all human counsel that is valid should come from that word. This can be the only right advice.