“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.” Proverbs 19:20
Scripture is full of exhortations not only to seek wisdom, but to ask for and listen to the counsel of others – a concept that has become increasingly foreign in our hyper-individualized and self-empowered world.
“You do you,” “live your truth”, and “answer to no one” have become the prevailing ethos of our time – excusing us from having to engage with anyone or anything that might challenge our carefully manicured sense of self.
But, we were never meant to exist in such a bubble. Time and again, God instructs us to humble ourselves, seek wisdom, and turn to others for instruction.
Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 13:10 says, “By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.” And Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.”
Putting this into practice often requires a sense of humility; an awareness that we don’t know everything and could benefit from the input of another.
It’s worth noting, however, that it’s not just any advice or counsel that we’re called to heed; it’s good, sound, Godly advice, particularly from those who have gone before us and who are more mature in the faith.
Consider Jeremiah 6:16, which says, “Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”
And Deuteronomy 32:7: “Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.”
And in Job 8:8-10, God says: “For inquire now of former generations, and consider what their ancestors have found; for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing, for our days on earth are but a shadow. Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?”
In other words, seek the counsel of those who have more life experience under the belt – which, by the very nature of time, often translates to those who are older than us. This is not to say that age guarantees wisdom; we can grow old without becoming wise. But it’s hard to become wise without lived experience.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
Wise Counsel vs. Foolish Counsel
The importance of heeding the right counsel, advice and instruction is perhaps best exemplified in the story of Rehoboam, King Solomon’s son who succeeded him as King of Israel upon his death (1 Kings 11:42-12:24).
When the people of Israel came to Rehoboam and asked him not to be as harsh a ruler as his father, he asked for some time to think about it. In a wise move, he decided to take counsel “with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive”, asking them: “How do you advise me to answer this people?” (1 Kings 12: 6).
The older men responded with wise counsel, encouraging Rehoboam to honor the people’s request and win their loyalty: “They answered him, ‘If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever’” (v. 12).
But, in a decision that would prove to be disastrous, Rehoboam “disregarded the advice that the older men gave him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him” (v. 8).
In stark contrast to the wise counsel of the older men, the younger companions foolishly advised Rehoboam to threaten even harsher conditions, telling him to say to the people: “Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions” (v. 11).
Rehoboam took the young men’s advice, which led to devastating consequences on both a personal and national scale. Scripture tells us that the ten northern tribes rebelled in protest, making Jeroboam their king instead, and only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained under the rule of Rehoboam.
1 Kings 12:19 says, “So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.” Rehoboam lost his widespread authority and what was once a unified nation split into two kingdoms. Such are the consequences of listening to foolish counsel.
The problem isn’t that Rehoboam sought advice from two parties; it’s that he listened to the wrong advice – perhaps because he didn’t like what the older men had to say. The older men advised him to take the selfless route, serving the interests of the people, while the young men advised him to take the selfish route, serving the interests of himself.
The difference in advice only serves to underscore the wisdom and perspective that comes with age. When we’re young, our world is small, and we often put ourselves at the center of it. When we’re old, we (hopefully!) realize we’re but a blip and our purpose so much greater than feeding our ego.
Oftentimes, wise counsel challenges us, uncovers our true motivations, and rubs up against our very human desires. But, that’s precisely why we need it: to humble ourselves and help point us to a perspective that is beyond our limited scope of self.
While not every older person is full of wisdom, years of life experience can lead to wise counsel that we would do well to seek out and heed.