There is no shortage of bad advice. Ask someone going through a separation or divorce. Talk to a parent with a rebellious teen. I have received my fair share and dished out a bit as well. How can we know the advice we are receiving is worthwhile? How can we be used by God to advise others? The key is to discern between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom. Not an easy thing to do. Thank God we have the holy scriptures, Jesus’ teachings and example and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us in prayer. When we offer advice, we would do well to ask “What’s really going on”. Job’s friend Eliphaz offered fascinating insight. (Likely the source was the deceiver, Satan himself) The problem is, he didn’t know what was really going on. No one did. His advice fit so well 99% of the life’s situations of suffering. But, what he didn’t know, made his advice to Job hurtful not helpful. He portrayed God as one who doesn’t care, without grace, and vindictive.
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
‘Can mankind be just before God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
‘He puts no trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error.
‘How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
‘Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unobserved, they perish forever.
‘Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?
They die, yet without wisdom.’ Job 4:16b-21 NASB
How quick am I to speak and share what I know, before I discover ‘what’s really going on’?
God, as this day begins- I would like to be a source of Your love, affection, grace and truth to others. Help me know the story behind the story and humbly offer advice to others. Give me wisdom and insight from above to live my own life and to help others.
