The Source Of Our Advice

The Source Of Our Advice

Sister Miki Terayama - 29 October 2022

Weekend Devotion: The Source Of Our Advice

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Advice Shopping

We all need to go shopping from time to time. Grocery shopping, shopping for clothes, for accessories, for necessities and all kinds of things. It is important to shop to stock up on things we require in our living. But do we use that same mentality when it comes to advices? Do we tend to shop for advices as well? When met with a little trouble or situation, when we are out of our own ideas or need some suggestions, we seek advices. When I was in school, I remember seeking the teachers a lot near my exam period to make sure I understand certain concepts. At work, when we are unsure of some tasks, we seek advice from a colleague or mentor with experience. A new parent might seek parents with older children for advice on child-caring matters. And when alone but we need to find out something,  we may also seek the advice of our very accessible internet buddy, Google or Wikipedia.  Now seeking for advice is natural and almost an everyday part of our lives. But the way we seek for advices and the sources we turn to, we need to be aware and discerning about it. 

I was just sharing about King Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, with my youths the other day. And there was this interesting account on Rehoboam’s first day of work as the new king.  The people of Israel were all gathered and they came to ask their new king if he could lighten their labour and the heavy yoke that his father had placed upon them. If Rehoboam could ease it, the people will serve him. Rehoboam needed time to mull over this decision so he told them to return for an answer in 3 days. Meanwhile, Rehoboam had to seek some advices, right? So here in 1 Kings 12:6-11, it says, “Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” Here, we see Rehoboam shopping for advices in two places. One with the elders who served his father before, and two, the young peers he grew up with.  Both gave different advices to him. With the elders, they wisely told him to grant the people’s request and lighten their labour. To which, Rehoboam rejected and turned to the young men. Now here, it is good to note that for us, there could be times when we also seek for advice and it is not something we desire to hear, so we can be quick to reject or rationalise around why that advice is not good, like what Rehoboam did here. Then when the young peers adviced him to increase the labour and threaten the people with harsh words, did that resonate with Rehoboam? Yes, because after 3 days, in 1 Kings 12:13, it says, “The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” Perhaps, he was seeking and waiting for an advice that would agree with his own idea. Perhaps he wanted something that could boost his ego as a new king. We do not know for sure. But one thing we do know, Rehoboam’s way of seeking for advice and the source of his advice are all in the wrong places.

The Heart’s Direction in Seeking Advices

Now there are many reasons that drive us for a need to seek for some advices in life. But before we go finding answers, it is important to note our heart’s attitude and intention. Like Rehoboam, some seek with a predetermined mindset. Some seek with a lot of personal and subjective view of situations. Some seek in an emotional state. But Paul reminds us here in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” True, we can have a lot of experiences, insights and knowledge about things, but can it sometimes also be blind-sided, out of our certain inclined opinions, obstinance or pride we have within us? How can we be assured and at peace with the advice we follow, unless it is from the wisest source of Counsel? So prior to seeking for advice, our heart’s direction should be to put down any ideals or options that we hold too strongly to, and pit God’s word against it. That is, to challenge our thoughts in God’s truth and spirit. If I am so sure I should cut someone out of my life, what does the Bible tell me about making peace and reconciling with someone? If I am so sure about changing my job, what is my main intention? For self or having faith convictions for a new work environment? So the heart’s direction is what we have to be wary of.

The Source Of Our Counsel

Then, another important note of Rehoboam’s example is the source of his advice. He sought two camps for suggestions. Of course, after hearing the account, we would think that he should have went with the wise elders’ words. Why? Because they have been serving his father, Solomon during his lifetime. And we know that a big part of Solomon’s reign, he was God-loving, God-driven and God-centered as a king. So from here, we know that these wise elders would be able to give him a more faith-directed advice. Just like how we sometimes need help and answers, we need to find advice from a quality and credible source. I used to love finding certain groups of people to rant about things, because I know they will rant along with me, or say things that pacify my anger or frustration. But that was it. It does not help me with my heart issue, and I am still bothered by the matter. But when I started confiding in church leaders, they say very different things. They do not just cajole my emotions, they give me sharp advices and truths, that may not be that comfortable to hear and even prick at my spiritual conscience. But it challenges me out of my emotional state to tap on my spirit and deal with some deep rooted bitterness or self pity issues that I need to look to God to. And this in turn, brings me to the table of the ultimate source of counsel, and that is God. The wisest advice we can get, is always the one that points our hearts to God for help or directions. You realised that out of the 3 days Rehoboam was trying to get some advice, he never sought after God in any way or any form of prayers. Yes, the elders may be wise, but there is no one that should be the final guide to our advices except the one that comes from our communion and understanding of God’s truth. And so, how can we seek advice from the wisest Counsel, God?
In Hebrews 4:12, it tells us, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” So we can sought advice from God through His word, that goes deep within us, discerns and re-direct our thoughts and intentions in His way. 

Then in 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, it says, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” So we also can seek advice from the Holy Spirit’s guidance. For those of us who love and believe in God, the Holy Spirit will work in us to nudge, comfort, rebuke or pull us back from making certain choices. And when we sometimes cannot fathom God’s work, ask the Spirit to reveal and help us know God’s leading. So continue to take in God’s truth and pray such that we can be touched and directed by the Spirit, not by our might or our own wisdom.
Dear brothers and sisters, may we be careful where we shop for advices and always go back to the One and Only reliable source of counsel in the Lord.

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Miki Terayama
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Miki is a full-time ministry staff at The Blessed Run Ministries. She is a sister who shares a natural, God-given affinity with children and youths. She is married to Randy (NET Group Youth Leader) and has two little ones of her own, Liora and Jude. She is involved in the children, youth and social media ministries.

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