Financial Discipleship - the Bible on Counselনমুনা

When it comes to wisdom, the book of Proverbs, most of which is authored by King Solomon, is a go-to source. It’s one of the five “books of wisdom.”

A good plan is made with direction (Proverbs 20:18). Direction from God and from godly people. But they become thwarted (Proverbs 15:22) the moment we rely on our own understanding. As harsh as it may sound, the reason why things don’t turn out the way God intended them to is because we didn’t talk it out with anyone or we talked to those who don’t have God in their forefront (2 Chronicles 25:14-16). But when we ask Him for guidance with a pure heart, even the ones who counsel us in error cannot deceive us (Proverbs 12:5). Their plans to harm us will only harm themselves (2 Samuel 16:20 & 23; 17:6-23).

The Bible tells us to obey our parents, no matter how old we are, and no matter how much they’ve aged (Proverbs 1:8-9). Gray hairs mean wisdom. Learning from their years of experience will do more for us than learning from our peers ever could (1 Kings 12:6-8). We need an example to follow. Learning to honor and obey our earthly parents is a blueprint to understanding how to obey our Heavenly Father. One cannot come without the other.

When we seek Him with our whole heart, we’ll find Him. When we ask Him, He will grant.

• God provides for us (Philippians 4:19).
• God plans for us (Proverbs 19:21).
• God guides us (Psalm 25:12).
• God leads us (Psalm 32:8).

He is always there when we need His counsel (Psalm 16:7; Psalm 33:10-11; Psalm 73:24). All He requires is that we love Him and take everything to Him in prayer.

Wisdom is infectious. If you spend enough time around the wise, wisdom will rub off on you (Proverbs 13:20). Many seek and consult those with it (2 Chronicles 9:23) to rectify their plans (Proverbs 15:22), to gain safety (Proverbs 11:14) and to claim victory in their battles (Proverbs 24:6).

How many times do we step away with no clarity after reading the Bible? Some verses we’ve read several times. Yet, nothing. But then, the Lord will give a profound revelation the one time we read and interpret it with others.

Wisdom is a precious gift. Even the good servant and prophet Moses, who led the many, needed and listened to wise counsel (Exodus 18:14-24). And when God told the wisest of them all, Solomon, to ask, he asked for discernment and an understanding heart. Not for death to his enemies or to live long as king. Not to be rich. He told us, if we seek Him for it, we will receive it (James 1:5). So, what was Solomon granted? Not only a wise and understanding heart to deliver justice, but riches and honor, too (1 Kings 3:1-15).

Planning, experiencing, and living our lives alone is not of God. He puts people in our lives to be available. And He puts us in others’ lives to do the same. Let us go to them. And let us sit and talk with them. Let us seek their counsel. We do not need to be afraid, because the body of Christ is better together. There’s no need for us not to receive a lending ear or not to grab hold of a helping hand. And there’s no need to feel like we have to do everything on our own. It is a blessing to the wise when we seek their guidance. We bring them joy (Proverbs 12:20).

It is a blessing to have the kind of family… the kind of friend in our life on whom we can count when we need guidance (Proverbs 27:9). Which fork in the road have you come to at this moment? Who in your life can you say always knows just what to say? Will you call on their counsel today?

(excerpt taken from The Bible on Money, Compass-finances God's way, 2022)