Proverbs 12:15 Graeme Sterne 2006 Listen to Advice Proverbs 12:15 Graeme Sterne 2006

A wise man listens to advice Proverbs 12:15 Listen to advice and accept instruction, in the end you will be wise Proverb 19:20 For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure Proverbs 11:14 Make plans by seeking advice, if you wage war, obtain guidance Proverbs 20:18

Advantages of advice Gaining alternative perspectives Seeing the flaws in your plans (forgotten items) Encouragement Growing your ideas Recruiting support (two are better than one) Avoiding ‘groupthink’

Who are you listening to? Yourself? Do not lean on your own understanding 3:5 (Trust in the Lord with all your heart) All a man’s ways seem innocent to him 16:2 (The heart is deceitful above all things Jer.17:9) Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him 26:12

False view of ourselves

There is a way that seems right to a man but it’s end is the way to death Proverbs 16:25

Are you listening to the ‘wicked’? i.e. people who do not know God They promise rewards but deliver bitterness Proverbs 1 They do not actually know the way to go – blind leading the blind Matt 15:14 Their perspective is earthly and not relevant to you. You are an alien here. I Peter 2:11

Maybe you have decided to listen to no one! Whoever corrects a mocker invites an insult … he will hate you … Proverbs 9:7,8 A mocker resents correction; he will not consult the wise Proverbs 15:12 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy Proverbs 29:1

So, what should we do? Tune our ears to God’s discipline Proverbs 3:7 Speak less and listen Proverbs 10:8 Welcome correction Proverbs 12:1 Walk with wise people Proverbs 13:20

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning Proverbs 9:9 He who heeds discipline shows the way of life; but whoever ignores correction leads others astray Proverbs 10:17