Proverbs 19:20

Introduction:

1. To gain wisdom we must seek and receive counsel from those who have it.

2. The great deceiver (John 8:44) sometimes makes it difficult to discern wise from foolish counsel (2 Peter 3:14-18).

3. Thankfully, God’s counsel is free for all (Psalms 73:24; Isaiah 9:6; 28:29; John 16:13).

Discussion:

I. The Need to Avoid Foolish Counsel

A. Warnings against foolish counsel.

1. God always warned His people of potential dangers.

2. He delivered His wisdom through prophets (spokesmen for God) from the earliest of times (Acts 3:18-24; Hebrews 1:1).

3. Sadly, Satan has used false prophets through the ages to deceive those seeking truth (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 11:3-4, 13-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

4. Warnings against bad advice abound (Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Proverbs 1:10; Jeremiah 23:16; Matthew 7:15-20; Ephesians 4:14; Hebrews 13:9; 1 John 4:1; Colossians 2:4-8).

B. Two painful examples of following foolish counsel (1 Kings 12-13).

1. Rehoboam lost ten tribes to bad advice (1 Kings. 12:4-24).

2. The man of God lost his life to ungodly counsel (1 Kings. 13:7-26).

II. The Need to Pursue Wise Counsel

A. Wisdom should be our principal pursuit (Proverbs 4:5-8).

B. Her immense value and benefits are our motivation (Psalms 1:2-3; Proverbs 3:13; 4:8-9; 8:11-12; 16:16; 19:8).

C. Paul prayed God’s wisdom for His people that we may walk worthily and pleasingly before the Lord (Ephesians 1:15-20; Colossians 1:9-11).

III. The Source of Wise Counsel

A. God gives wise counsel (Psalms 16:7; 73:24; Isaiah 48:17-19; James 1:5; 3:17).

B. The blessed man of Psalm 1 not only avoided the counsel of the wicked, but he delighted in the law (counsel) of the Lord (vs. 2).

C. The Scriptures contain His counsel (Psalms 119:24; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Conclusion:

1. Every one of us takes counsel/advice from someone else.

2. Having seen the consequences of taking bad advice, we must seek good advice.

Search the world over, but the fullness of wisdom is in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10).