Some People Shouldn't Be Allowed To Give Advice

I won't apologize for speaking the truth about this here. I hesitate to address this unnecessarily in the midst of forum discussions themselves (sometimes it seems unavoidable, but it usually only serves to spark up arguments), and I know it's impossible to administer and enforce but, at least, some guidelines for those seeking to advise might be helpful. I'd like to offer some here.

I wish I could say that I have a vast wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on in offering advice, but the longer I live, the more clearly I see that all my righteousness is truly as filthy rags. Unfortunately, most of the worthwhile lessons I've learned have come from recognizing mistakes I've made from taking bad advice or leaning on my own understanding.

Christ and Him crucified; first, last, and always is the only answer to our problems, folks, and I so wish I could convey the profundity with which I believe that. I can't think of a single difficulty I've faced that wouldn't have been less troublesome, had I kept this more fully in mind.

A substantial prayer and Bible study devotional period each day, culminating with a visit to the old rugged cross and meditation upon His indescribable love and sufferings for us is the most powerful sustenance and preparation of which we may partake. It is especially important to take seriously the metaphor of His Word as our food. So very important. It often takes a believer years (sadly, many never take full advantage of this greatest of opportunities) to begin to see the potential love and power available only in this provision.

Not to get too far off my topic of concern, more and more, every day, God would have us behold His Glory and assume the mind of Christ. We only live this temporal life for a short time and much suffering and difficulty is dependent upon our fidelity to His will to be relieved and softened.

And running ahead of this process positively compounds the troubles of those who seek our help. If we believe that we are qualified to advise His poor children before we are actually under His full tutelage, we may be instrumental in plunging souls into unwise acts and despair that could bring about their eternal ruin. Of course, it will be argued that God will not allow this, but woe be unto us if we, in our finite, feeble musings, miscalculate the outworking of God's will.

(Sadly, the information age has proliferated much of the amateur advice-giving culture in which we now find ourselves immersed. Even more tragic is the extent to which modern Christendom has allowed itself to be dragged into this mire and muck.)

One thing is sure: If we allow our opinions and the influences of (even) those (Christians) around us to take the place of Godly wisdom, we are bound to meet with disastrous results. And if we are not carefully and actively cultivating faith and fidelity to God's leading, we will surely be tickled by the whisperings of the adversary of souls in our ears. We have a Heaven to win and a hell to shun and, more importantly, to the Christian whose very enveloping philosophy is that of self-sacrificing, other-centered love, we have a consuming interest in snatching others from the mouth of the abyss.

To summarize: If we are to be worthy, effective counselors to those who come to us in His Name, we must possess a knowledgeable Bible-shaped/sized filter through which we may filter their concerns. Anything less would be blasphemous and profanity to The Lord.
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D.A. Wright
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