Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday October 4, 2006

I have been reading the book of Proverbs each day when I grow weary, usually around noon. I am amazed at how up to date the book is and just how precise each tid bit of wisdom is able to cut through the fog of my fuzzy brain.

Take this verse for instance:

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety." Proverbs 11:14

One of the glaring needs in each life is the counsel of the wise. When each person can surround themselves with wise counselors, their success is near certain. You don't know just how rare wise counsel, associated with a genuine Christian, Bible centered outlook really is in today's world.

We are often tricked into thinking that God has given each of us, individually, all the wisdom necessary for us to accomplish His will in our life. If this thought is true, why then the oft repeated instruction to get wise counsel? Certainly the Lord leads us through His word, through His Spirit, empirical evidence or the wise counsel of others. It's really great when each of these factors is positive in any decision. Relying on any one of the leading devices can get you into trouble, except where the scripture is crystal clear. But, alas, the Bible doesn't tell me specifically WHO to marry, or exactly where to work. I'm sure you get the idea.

While browsing through the November/December 2006 issue of Homiletics I came across an illustration which is great in that it clarifies the importance of a multitude of counselors, much as Solomon suggested. In his book "The Wisdom of Crowds" James Surowiecki wrote:

"What people probably won't remember is that every week 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' pitted group intelligence against individual intelligence, and that every week, group intelligence won.'"

Going against the grain is considered The American Way, and this is good, sometimes. When principles and the clear teaching of God's word is at stake the only thing for a person of Christian conviction to do is to go against the flow. We honor all those who do this as heroes of the faith.

If you decide to be biblical and attempt to get wisdom from a multitude, please understand that hardly any select, standing group will always have wisdom for each area of your life. It becomes necessary to develop a volatile group rather than a static one as you chart new courses over the span of your life.

Hey, don't fuss with me, Solomon knew more about this than you and I put together. Okay, leave him out of the 'who to marry meeting.'

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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