Category: Counsel

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Wisdom at the Gate

Dear Sister,

I have a confession to make. I love to read. Sometimes, in the middle of the night when everyone else is sleeping, I’ll sneak in some reading. I will slip away from the kids and my husband to read a few pages. I read in bed, while multitasking (not very well), on the computer, in the bathtub, outside, in the car. I read, read, read, read, read. Books, articles, dictionaries, reference works, all types of genre, on the Kindle, on the computer, in newspapers, and magazines; but my favorite mode of reading is snuggled a comfy chair with a good, well-worn paperback book and a steaming hot cup of tea.

I read for entertainment, new ideas, how-tos, and for insight. Besides my occasional inability to appropriately budget my reading time, the hunt for insight can get me into trouble. We do not have cable TV in our home. Early on in our marriage, we determined we did not want to have to pay for TV, nor did we want the distraction of all the TV channels pumped into our home. So, if we want to know about the current events of the day, we read (yes, we do have the internet). That is where the trouble begins. I can ask any number of questions (do I vaccinate, should I recycle, what about the situation in Ukraine, is evolution a verifiable fact, is the Bible truth?); but the real question is how do I discern the truth?

Our society leans heavily toward listening and following the polished, bombastic, handsome person delivering an answer (and to the answer most beneficial to self); more than it does toward discerning actual truth. Our pastor at Azorean Baptist Church in Portugal liked to say that as a society (this was an American-Portuguese community), if given a choice between hard work and flying pigs, the flying pigs would win every time. I also find myself suckered by gimmicks, and worried over inflammatory articles. Neither indicates a wise response.

During ancient biblical times, governing and economic business occurred in the gates of the cities—those who had wisdom in their fields of business were found in the gates, conducting business, governing the city, imparting wisdom. The Israelites could look to those who had experience for their counsel. Solomon himself says, “Does not wisdom call, and understanding lift up her voice? On top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates, at the opening to the city, at the entrance of the doors, she cries out: ‘To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O naïve ones, understand prudence; and, O fools, understand wisdom.’” Proverbs 8:1-5.

We are not born with wisdom; we have to seek it out. But, while we may not be blessed with innate wisdom, we do have the ability to choose where we find our counsel. Dear sister, this is crucial! Look past appearances and around the easy answers you know you are naturally drawn to. Select marital guidance from someone who has a marriage that has gone the distance and works instead of from flippant lines on the newest witty sitcom. Find economic advice from those who have built and maintained successful, honest businesses that are a benefit to their families as well as to the community. Search out counsel about societal truths from those working in the depths of humanity and making an impact for good, not just from teachers (or politicians) who sit and pontificate their newest theories.

It is nigh impossible for me to get out from behind my computer and search for those truly making a difference; but I know in the long run, discovering wise counsel is a journey worth sacrificing for. “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 8:34-35.

Running with you,
Rebecca

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Created For Counsel

Dear sister,

So often when the dark clouds of life’s storms come rolling in along with what seems like a torrent of difficult circumstances, our hearts become cold like getting caught in a down pour of rain. We often choose to run and hide away as though that will make it all go away. Sometimes, we walk around so numb from the chill in our hearts that we walk through life as though we were just a ghost, or at least we look like one.

So which is it sister? Which way do you tackle the problems of life? Do you hide away all alone? Or do you walk through them emotionless? Maybe you like them, after all they do bring a sense of drama to a somewhat hum drum life. Besides, you have been told what a great problem solver you are! Could it be you have convinced yourself “once a victim always a victim”? You may have become so identified with the problems that you sincerely cannot see yourself any other way. Possibly pride has entered the picture and you are going to “pull yourself up by the bootstraps by golly and just keep going” even if it’s in the wrong direction!

These are some of the reasons most people shy away (or run) from the idea of receiving counsel. Did you know that we were created to be counseled? It’s true! In Genesis 3: 2 we learn that God had told the man and the woman ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ I would say that’s pretty direct counsel!

God Himself counsels and His counsel is always good. Here are a few of my favorite verses regarding the counsel of God.

“With God are wisdom and might;
he has counsel and understanding.” Job 12:13

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you”. Psalm 32:8

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.” Psalm 33:11

God has blessed us with His counsel in His Word, the Bible. We were created to be counseled. He created our hearts and only He knows our hearts. The Scripture tells us that out of our hearts spring the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23), so it makes sense that our hearts take the first hit if you will when life becomes hard. When our hearts are heavy from the burdens of this life God gives us counsel.

Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor and when He ascended into heaven at Pentecost His Holy Spirit which He promised (John 16) remained to comfort us and guide us (counsel) in the Truth of God’s word. Even those with faith as big as mountains need God’s counsel. Job is a powerful example of this. It helps us even when we know the word of God well, to receive counsel from another who also knows the word of God and believes in its final authority in life.

If you are struggling sister and you are confused about what to do, or how to respond to life’s undulating circumstances consider the counsel of the Lord. Consider opening your heart to another believer who is strong in the Lord and is trustworthy with the Word of God. If you are at a place where you don’t have someone to talk to seek out a biblical counselor in your area by going to www.biblicalcounseling.com.

I want to leave you with one last verse from the Psalms that speaks to the counsel of God.

“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices..” Psalm 16:7-9a

Because of His Grace,
Susan

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Counsel From The Cross

Dear sister,

We have all given counsel. Most of it is never done officially in an office, yet we do it everyday. We have given it to countless strangers, friends, and family. We have been helpful and probably not so helpful, done it well and done it poorly.

Sisters, we love to talk and share our stories and opinions to others. Think about a time when someone told you of a person with a particular health issue or someone who was pregnant, what did you do? If you are like me, you replied with a story of someone YOU knew of that had/has the same thing and what the outcome was. Then I told the person what they should or should not do based on this account. Look back this day or week and just think of the counsel you have given your husband, child, friends, or stranger. How did it go? Was it biblical counsel?

As believers, we all are called to give biblical counsel (Acts 20:20, Rom 15:14, Col1:28). We are to instruct, teach, admonish, and encourage people to live their life to the glory of God. But how do we do that? Crazy enough, the Bible actually shows us how to give Godly, biblical counsel for any and all circumstances. The Lord inspired Paul and others to write letters to many Christian churches who were struggling with every day issues and questions and Paul gave them biblical counsel. But that begs the question: how did he counsel? From the cross.

Paul starts almost all of his letters with rich theology. He reminds the believers of their history, how they were dead in their transgressions and deserved God’s eternal wrath. That their good works done in righteousness got them no where and are like filthy menstruation rags (that’s the picture the Greek word paints). Then at the right time, Jesus came and bore their sin debt on the cross and granted them forgiveness for all time and put His perfect righteousness on them! Now they are seen by their creator as perfect and adopted into His eternal family as a son complete with all spiritual blessings and inheritance. In light of this theology, he then gave counsel on how they should behave and convicted them of any sin that was seen. He counseled them to love their wives as Christ loves the church, for wives to respect and submit to their husband, for children to honor their parents. He told fighting people to make up, to not get drunk, to always work hard, to not quarrel about what spiritual gift the Lord has given you. He tells believers to rejoice always, to be humble like Christ, to think on right things and not to gossip or speak ill of others. He tells them to love God and love their neighbor. Not to earn favor, but out of thankfulness and joy from what they have in Christ.

Oh sister, the Word is full of counsel for us to give and take. It says that we have an active-responsible heart and not a passive-reactive-victim heart. It says that we may have things that have contributed to our lives but they have not determined our lives. It says we are sinners that need to be forgiven not a being that simply needs more self-esteem. It tells us to repent, have faith, renew our minds, and that we are being sanctified, not that we need our inner needs met or to have more self-worth and confidence. Our worth and confidence need to be in Christ alone (remember what our own righteousness looks like)! Scripture tells us that our Lord is sovereign over all things and to get to know Him and trust Him, not to think that He doesn’t care or see us in some of our most sticky situations.

Can you see and feel the difference? Our counsel should be full of hope! We can face anything because of Christ! There is an answer and ultimate cure for every situation…the Bible says so! Counsel at the heart level…where we think and what we believe…is wise counsel. And wise counsel comes from scripture. Can you see how daily reading of the Word helps with our counsel? Can you see being overwhelmed with Christ’s grace and mercy helps view circumstances differently? Can you counsel someone in light of the sovereignty and character of God? This is discipleship in action. We are commanded to give it. Oh sister, read your Bible, pray, go to a Godly church, feed your mind on spiritual meat so when people come to you for counsel, you can give counsel based on the cross.

~Colleen