Advice Sources

I was talking with a friend today and I had an epiphany. We really need to consider the advice we heed and where we are getting it from.

Take a minute and read 1 Kings 12:1-11.

Rehoboam is being made king in place of his father, Solomon. The people want him to lessen the control and demand that they felt from Solomon. With, unfortunately, negative results.

This is a difficult lesson that holds true for today as much as it did for ancient Israel. Far too often we overlook the advice or consultation of those that are experienced because they aren't considered our peers. We disregard those that have stood in and absorbed from the presence of greatness for many years. But rather we often find ourselves listening to the buffoons we call friends. What qualifies the youth to give advice to the older, anyway? I know that sometimes we really need to listen to everyone to properly form our own opinions. However, most great advice comes from experience, not opinions.

I was in a conference meeting once for business. The speaker asked us, “Would you rather take financial advice from your broke, drunk uncle that is living in your mom's basement or the businessman that has a proven track record of making money?” That’s a great question that should lead us to truth. Yet, how many times do we listen to that uncle babble his "wealth of knowledge" and disregard the one with the better understanding just because we are familiar with the uncle? Sometimes that familiarity can ruin us as we find ourselves more concerned about hurt feelings than listening to good wisdom. And our hesitation dooms us in the end.

You see, Rehoboam disregarded the council of the old men. Old men who had sat before the wisest on Earth and listened to thousands of his parables and proverbs. All the teaching and good judgment of King Solomon passed through their ears. You see, the anointing for wisdom he had would have rubbed off on them. A process often called the “like anointing”.

In his book, “Tangible Anointing”, Rod Parsley talks about the like anointing that a person can walk in by being in the presence of someone who is deeply anointed for a particular ministry already. (See Elijah & Elisha) I can tell you firsthand that this is legitimate from my own experience. I was changed forever from a like anointed minister.

I was so hurt and undone that I prayed God would take my life. I prayed with everything in me for a certain battle to stop. I yelled. “God I would rather die and go to Hell than to face another battle.” I meant every word of it. Then I met this young preacher named Louis Campbell at a service I was invited to. I heard him preach and was on the edge of my seat. I found out where he went to church and a couple weeks later, my wife, our children and I showed up. They were happy church and full of life. We stayed there for the next 11 ½ years as God poured that like anointing out on me from this other minister.

I say all this to make a point. Rehoboam disregarded the anointed wisdom of these older councilors to listen to his friends. In so doing he ended up losing 80% of his kingdom. If he had listened, then his kingdom would have stayed intact. But instead, he listened to his pals. So, because of greed and ambition, it cost him the majority of his rule. This very act caused the lost part of the kingdom to come under a king who would lead them away from God and to follow after other, false gods.

How much are you willing to lose by disregarding those who are raised up with wisdom and experience? To fulfill your own ambitions and desires? Is it worth your kingdom to listen to those that have no experience in a subject you need wisdom in just because they are "familiar" to you? It would be like asking a plumber to perform heart surgery because they are your friend. Or a heart surgeon to put in your toilet and sink because you’re neighbors. Make sure you are seeking advice in the right places.

I will leave you with James 1:5
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

And Proverbs 3:5-7
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”