In the Proverbs we are taught that "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success. Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!" (Proverbs 15:22-23, NLT) I thank the Lord for my wife's good sense and advice. Too many times to count in our 31 years of marriage she has provided me with a perspective that helps me find the right balance, or she has wisely steered me away from some impetuous action that would proven regrettable. There are my trusted friends in ministry whose counsel I seek from time to time when I face a crossroads decision. I appreciate their wisdom, even when they point to a course of action that is not, at first look, appealing.
I cannot lead God's church by testing the winds of opinion and 'giving the people what they want,' but my leadership calling is enhanced by gathering men and women with good minds, those committed to Christ and His Church, and people of spiritual depth around me. They offer counsel. I am not so foolish as to think, even for one moment, that I have enough experience, or 20/20 vision in all things! By way of example, in filling two positions on our church's ministry team this Summer, I took a lead in the process of selecting candidates, but I was guided in the selections by teams who prayed with me for God's guidance and who gave their time to advise and evaluate candidates for those positions.
King David enjoyed the counsel of good friends. He nicknamed his inner circle, "the Mighty Men." Isn't that a cool moniker? The Bible says "David’s Mighty Men, ...linked arms with him as he took up his kingship..." (1 Chronicles 11:10, The Message) They were his allies, offering encouragement, surrounding him with support. In the book of the Acts which tells us the stories of the first generation of Believers, there were councils called from time to time when the Church faced thorny issues requiring wisdom. Yes, leaders like Peter and Paul were decisive and bold, but they were also willing to let God speak to them through the counsel of their friends and co-workers. In those stories we find that sometimes the debate was sharp and words pointed! Feelings got hurt, too. But, with the help of the Spirit, those early church leaders kept their eyes on the goal and built Christ's Kingdom, not their own!
Do you have a circle of advisors?
Are there people in your life that you have invited to speak truthfully to you, no matter the situation?
Are you a "Lone Ranger" trying to live self-sufficiently?
Jesus calls us into the community of the Church. That means more than coming together for worship on Sunday morning. He asks us to lay down our ego, to 'die to self,' and to become servants to one another. In obedience, we gain so much. Yet, tragically, in our time of emphasis on radical individualism, we are so quick to discard relationships with those who challenge us, who offer counsel that does not soothe us, or seem to affirm us.
Let's take that descriptive line from the experience of the Mighty Men and 'link arms!' Let's go beyond romantic notions of fellowship that only values the 'warm fuzzies' that come from the good times of fun and laughter, to build a real team that builds our character, that calls the highest and best from us in the cause of Christ.
Take this word from the Word with you today. Ask God, the Spirit, to teach you how to build a circle of counselors in your life.
"Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT)
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