Bad Advice

And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 1 Chronicles 19:3 (NKJV)

David sent messengers to comfort Hanun, king of Ammon after his father, Nahash died, because he had shown kindness to David. But Hanun's princes told him that the messengers were there to spy out the land and he cut their robes at the buttocks and shaved off their beards, degrading them. Hanun, knowing he started a war, hired the Syrians to help them fight Israel. The Ammonites and Syrian had great losses to David's army, and they became servants of Israel. Because Hanan acted on bad advice from his princes, his country went from a peaceful existence with Israel to one of servitude.

The tongue can start a forest fire, and as believers we need to examine advice that we get, especially if it comes from an unsolicited source. James 1:19 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." We are reminded to think before we act on advice, recognizing the impact that our actions may have on us and others. When we slow down to examine the advice given to us, we end up with smarter solutions, we avoid unwarranted conflict, we uncover insights, and we align our choices with values, intuition, and the clarity that comes from God.

Choose to test the advice given to you with the bible. The infallible word of God is the best source to test someone's advice. If it does not match up the written word or the teachings of Jesus, it is probably not good advice. Does the advice given glorify God or does it elevate human opinion? If someone is promoting themselves with the advice they are giving you, it most likely is not good, and should be evaluated before you act on it. Also listen to your heart and let the Spirit guide you. If you are getting a feeling that advice is not good, examine it before acting on it. By listening to the Holy Spirit, praying, and meditating on the Word, you can avoid bad advice and the state of servitude it can put you in.