Nougat 15

Hello

How many of us have been guilty of giving bad advice to another person? Have we thought about its reflection on our character? May I offer to us today’s Holy Nougat for our consideration.

“The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.” Proverbs‬ ‭12:26‬ ‭NLT

I believe this is asking that we guard our words; prayerfully considering each thought before releasing it into the atmosphere of someone’s life. Because each of us carried influence; what we say matters to somebody. And that comes with responsibility and consequences here on this side of eternity.

But let’s remember, advice is often underscored by our actions. How often I determined that certain people could not influence me because their walk and their talk were not in sync. Then there are some of us whose attitudes deny our faith; and it spills over to our conversations. In many instances, our secret lives will eventually stray over into our reality.

It’s also interesting to note that the comparison extends beyond the fact of advice giving to reflection on one’s spiritual health. It could also be an invitation to check our own spiritual state in relation to the advice sought. For, as a friend of mine would say, some things are above our pay grade. We are not all called to the same ministries and gifts – and our natural knowledge can get us only so far in offering wise counsel. Let’s aim for offering wise counsel to others.

A last word for our own consideration – from whom do we seek advice? If what we say influences others in our lives; then the same applies in reverse. Are we seeking wise and godly counsel? Or ‘friendly’ counsel? Or do we only seek to be lauded for our thoughts, thus seeking only parrot counsel?

May God’s counsel find and emanate from us in all spheres of our lives.

In Christ’s love and grace . . .