Be Wise, Take Advice (encore)

A reflection from Proverbs

"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." (Proverbs 13:10, NIV)

Photo by Emre on Unsplash

Have you ever known someone who always asks for advice but never takes it? Have you ever been someone who frequently asks for advice but rarely takes it? There have been times in my life when I was desperate for advice. In those seasons, I drank in wisdom from older, more experienced people.

There have also been times when I was pretty full of myself. I thought I knew what I was doing and didn't want advice. When a well-meaning person offered me wisdom, I only pretended to listen. My face was interested and attentive, but my heart was smug and prideful. I can always tell when I start getting this way by how I react to unasked-for advice. If I'm annoyed, there's a good chance I'm complacent and arrogant (even if I'm hiding it well).

I have discovered, often the hard way, that most advice has something of value I can take away. There are plenty of times when someone gives me advice I don't want to hear. That may be most of the advice I've received throughout my life! But it's often when I don't want to hear it that it has a valuable nugget of wisdom for me.

One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received came from Dr. Green in a class at Moody Theological Seminary. He said (paraphrased), "You will leave Moody with a Master of Divinity degree. But don't get full of yourself. You may have read books and written papers, but there's much more to knowing God than that. You can learn something from every single person you meet. Never forget that."

My prayer for this week is that we will each receive some advice with humility and grace.