“He who heeds counsel is wise” Wise Counsel Proverbs 12:15 Proverbs 24:6 You have probably heard the one about the man who was going to represent himself in court – he had a fool for an attorney! The Bible teaches this same principle: (Proverbs 12:15), “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” The person who is so consumed with himself that he believes he could never possibly be wrong is a fool. He will not consider the possibility that his way might not be the best. And, if you try to change his mind he will gladly correct your “wrong” impression. Such a person is typically obstinate and rebellious against the will of God. Never mind that the God of the Universe has revealed His truth, this person is right because “he says so”. Truly, he is a fool. The person who allows pride to dominate his heart is foolish. (1 John 2:16), “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.” Pride is not the source of wisdom, but of destruction (Proverbs 16:18), “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” However, Proverbs 12:15 also says “he who heeds counsel is wise”, (Proverbs 24:6), “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” The value of wise and godly counsel cannot be overestimated. Whom we turn to for counsel makes all the difference in the world. People in the world give worldly counsel, while people of faith will turn us to God We must seek out counselors who will help us follow God’s path of righteousness. Choose wise counselors, including the following: “He who heeds counsel is wise”

No greater source of wise counsel! The Word of God Psalm 119: 97-100, 104, 130 Job 28:12-13, 23 (Psalm 119:97-100), “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. (Psalm 119:104), “Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:130), “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” By turning to God’s word for counsel we are going to the wisdom of the Wise One. The psalmist emphatically states that God’s word made him wiser than his enemies, his teachers and the aged. Too often, men fail to understand the value of wisdom (Job 28:12-13), “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?13 Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.” (23), “God understands its way, and He knows its place.” There is no greater source of wise counsel than God’s word! No greater source of wise counsel!

To disregard the advice of parents is foolish! Godly Parents Proverbs 1:8-9 4:1-2 (Proverbs 1:8-9), “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” (Proverbs 4:1-2), “Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; 2 For I give you good doctrine: do not forsake my law.” Some children think their parents do not know anything. But, since parents have already experienced much more of life than their children, the wise child listens to their counsel. To disregard the advice of your parents is the way of foolishness. To disregard the advice of parents is foolish!

It may be painful, but it will be helpful! A True Friend Proverbs 17:17 27:6 (Proverbs 17:17), “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 27:6), “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” This is one who, because of your close friendship, holds your best interests supreme. His or her advice may hurt you, but it will help you because it is “faithful”. It is wise to seek out friends who will give us advice that is for our spiritual good. It may be painful, but it will be helpful!

People with Experience 1 Kings 12:4-13 Titus 2:3-5 (1 Kings 12:4-13), “’Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.’ 5 So he said to them, ‘Depart for three days, then come back to me.’ And the people departed. 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, ‘How do you advise me to answer these people?’ 7 And they spoke to him, saying, ‘If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.’ 8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. 9 And he said to them, ‘What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, “Lighten the yoke which your father put on us”?’ 10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, ‘Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, "Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us”—thus you shall say to them: “My little finger shall be thicker than my father's waist! 11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!”’ 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, ‘Come back to me the third day.’ 13 Then the king answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him; 14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, ‘My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’” Rehoboam pridefully rejected the wisdom of the old men for the counsel of youthful power. It led to civil war and the division of Israel. We should listen to those who have experienced things we now face; they can teach us important lessons (Titus 2:3-5), [elderly women as example], “the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”   They have faced what you are facing!

Humble yourself! Proverbs 8:13 James 4:6 Proverbs 9:9-10 Conclusion Humble yourself! Proverbs 8:13 James 4:6 Proverbs 9:9-10 Yes, pride keeps us from seeking wise, God-approved counsel. In contrast, the one who fears God hates pride and chooses advice and counsel that leads him or her in the paths of righteousness (Proverbs 8:13), “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.” God favors the humble, but resists the proud (Jas. 4:6). (James 4:6), “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” Therefore, choose humble wisdom instead of arrogant foolishness. (Proverbs 9:9-10), “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Note: Sermon based on an article: Wise Counsel - Joe R. Price The Spirit’s Sword, XII:37, 9/20/09 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”