Week of May 31

Long-range planning requires the right foundation, or the result will fail. This bold claim rests entirely upon a biblical worldview seen through Solomon’s lens of faith in God. Our focal verse encapsulates this life principle and provides us with an excellent guide to ensuring success in our own lives and ministries. Let’s look more carefully at our focal passage for today.

This proverb, and the one that follows, when taken at face value, follows a theme—unwise action leads to disaster and wise action provides security. The difference is that the first maxim refers to national concerns (11:14), whereas the second takes up the focus of personal business (11:15). We would say in contemporary language that the counsel of many helps to avert failure. Keep in mind that Solomon writes Proverbs with the core theme that God is the ultimate source of wisdom, and He is to be the true Guide for success. Let me enlarge upon the point being made.

We may examine the negative side of the coin and state that an unwise ruler or governor can squander the resources of a nation or a city. The same holds true for an individual who is dragged into foolishness by unwise friends. One only needs to pick up a newspaper and read the headlines or scan one’s social media feed to find examples of such foolishness. It should go without saying that the positive view of the text encourages us to seek godly wisdom whenever we make decisions that hold deep moral significance. Solomon teaches us how to utilize biblical wisdom when we make choices.

How to apply biblical wisdom to daily life

Utilize scriptural guidance. He writes of “guidance” and uses a word that is comparable to “steering a ship,” in this case the ship of state.* Proper guidance is necessary to maintain the stability of a nation. In other words, no one can rule or govern based solely upon his or her own strengths. Call to mind our nation’s political history to examine the pattern of its founders. Truly, the Founders were not all good Baptist folk. In fact, none were Baptists, although some relied upon the counsel of Baptists as it regarded church/state issues. The early leaders of our nation, however, sought wise counsel that enabled them to forge a form of governance that made it possible for people like you and me to experience life, freedom, and to pursue human flourishing. Nations do well when wise moral voices are heard. Yes, and our nation’s leaders also need to open their ears to the social cries that continue to surface (e.g. millions who have low food security).

Solicit good scriptural guidance. Solomon refers to “counselors” in our text. The word is used regarding Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, and the administrative advice that he gave to Israel’s prophet-leader. These people of wisdom provided organizational planning and advice on how to rule and judge people (Theological Wordbook). We know intuitively that ruling and governing are not solely about military strength and economic prosperity. People cannot eat arrows when they are hungry, and money alone cannot provide security from outside attack. A circle of active wise counselors helps to provide for the broad needs of a people. Keep in mind that a leader may have a dream team of wise counselors and still fail to heed their advice (cf. Rehoboam’s rejection of elder wisdom; I Kings 12:8, 13). So, where do we go from here?

Here is my personal testimony. I recall a pivotal moment as a young adult when I had thrown up my hands in despair and decided to change my life path from pastoral ministry! Some of the best words of counsel that I ever received were entirely contrary to the course of action I then had in mind. All these years later, I am glad that I followed the advice of that godly man. Furthermore, there were wonderful men and women of godly wisdom in my churches that very often held different ideas about how we might achieve God’s purpose for the congregations. I listened, even though it may have been a bit uncomfortable at times, and I sought to incorporate their counsel into the final decision. To this day, I sincerely consult the counsel of our Board of Directors and Leadership Team at the Baptist Center for Global Concerns. God has blessed because we all pursue His wisdom in our forward direction.

Here is the takeaway. There are so many I wish to thank for bearing me up—and sometimes bearing with me—as I seek to lead. I am forever indebted to them. Looking back, I thank the Father that those precious people never stopped praying for me and offering their advice to me. I give them the lion’s share of credit for success (11:14). All of us do well to build future national, church, and personal successes upon the wise foundation of godly counsel.

1. We spend a whole lot of time and energy in opposition to our national leaders, when we would likely fare better in apposition to them. I mean by this turn of phrase that we would do better to draw alongside our leaders today in prayer. We should ask God to empower us with His wisdom, so that we may offer them wise counsel.

2. Pray daily for God’s wisdom to be poured out upon those counselors who advise our leaders. 

3. For Families: This teaching has immediate application to our families, doesn’t it? During the next week, at breakfast, lunch, supper, and bedtime, include our nation’s leaders, and our church leaders, in your prayers to God. It would also be wonderful to pray for the leaders in your home – both parents and children. Ask God to grant wisdom and to surround them with wise and godly counselors.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock

*Cf. Whybray, Book of Proverbs, as quoted in EBC.