Seek Wise Counsel

Yesterday at church I preached on Matthew 8, noting Jesus’ authority and how we should listen to His commands (per Matthew 5-7).  As a supplement to that message, I want to share some excerpts from Dr. Bruce Waltke’s book, Finding the Will of God.  To be sure, it all starts with the Bible as the ultimate authority.  But Dr. Waltke also outlines the importance of seeking wise counsel and the role of spiritual leaders in authority.  I am excerpting here some passages that were helpful in my understanding/applying this to my life:

It is imperative that you look for a mature Christian whom you trust and admire, and that you are willing to listen to counsel even if you do not appreciate it.  [...]  And when we do seek counsel from another person, it should be a person in whom we have confidence of spiritual maturity.  The mature person knows Scripture.  Turning to an immature believer, or even a nonbeliever, is the height of folly.  How will God use that person to develop your character and give you spiritual direction? [pp.109-100]

You have a pastor and church leaders in authority over you, and you need to pay attention to their counsel.  A few years ago I had a student who was always changing churches — it seemed as though every other month he was telling me about the problems at his new church.  “Why don’t you just stay put?”  I asked him one day.  He proceeded to tell me about all the sin problems in each of the churches he had been at, and how he had no intention of “being part of an apostate church.”   Unfortunately, the real reason this young man wouldn’t stay in one church was that he did not want to be under anyone’s authority.  He saw himself as the Lone Ranger of the Christian church, riding off to shoot down the sinners plugging the pews of the house of God.  But our Lord doesn’t work that way.  Every Christian is under authority, and I warned this young man that he was headed for trouble if he had no one to keep him accountable.  [...] Look to the leadership of your local church body, and to the individuals you know who walk close to God.  [pp.113-114]

Christians like to toss around the phrase “I was called” whenever they make a decision about something important.  It is important that we understand the concept of God’s “call.”  I define it this way: A call is an inner desire given by the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, and confirmed by the community of Christ.  [...] If it is apparently confirmed through the Bible, then it must really be affirmed by the body of Christ, which is why it is so vitally important to surround oneself with godly people.  I ask every person who claims he wants to be in the ministry if mature Christians in his church have confirmed that assessment.  Without the affirmation of the body, one must question the legitimacy of the call [...]  [pp.118-119]

That’s some wise counsel indeed!  Even now I apply it to my life by having spiritual mentors over me.  Pastor Ed Kang has been my pastor for the past 21 years and there were many a times when he spoke painful truth that I needed to hear.  And with fear and trembling before God, I strive to be a spiritual leader whom God can use to bring wise counsel to those entrusted under my care…

“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)