How should Christians respond to advice that contradicts biblical principles, like in Esther 5:14? Setting the scene: ungodly advice in Esther 5:14 “Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, ‘Have a pole fifty cubits high set up, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet in high spirits.’ The suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.” (Esther 5:14) Haman embraced a plan that flattered his pride, but the scheme stood in direct opposition to God’s covenant purposes for His people. Recognizing ungodly counsel • It ignores or twists God’s revealed will (Isaiah 5:20). • It flatters ego, appetite, or fear rather than exalting God (Proverbs 29:25). • It urges quick action without seeking the Lord (Joshua 9:14). • It appeals to worldly success or comfort over righteousness (Matthew 16:24-26). Why ungodly advice often sounds attractive • Pride craves vindication—Haman wanted public revenge. • Sin promises immediate relief—“Then go … in high spirits.” • Peer pressure normalizes evil—“all his friends” affirmed the plan. • Spiritual dullness confuses right and wrong (1 Corinthians 2:14). Biblical tests for every piece of counsel 1. Scripture filter: “All Scripture is God-breathed … so that the man of God may be complete” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 2. Character test: Does it produce the fruit of the Spirit or the works of the flesh? (Galatians 5:19-23). 3. Wisdom from above: “pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit” (James 3:17). 4. Eternal perspective: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). 5. Authority hierarchy: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Steps for responding when advice contradicts Scripture • Pause—refuse to act on impulse (Proverbs 19:2). • Pray—seek clarity from the Lord (Philippians 4:6-7). • Search the Word—let the Bible interpret the issue (Psalm 119:105). • Seek godly counsel—“Plans are established by seeking advice” (Proverbs 20:18). • Politely but firmly decline—state your allegiance to God’s truth (Daniel 3:16-18). • Choose obedience—“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them” (Matthew 7:24-25). • Trust God with results—He vindicates righteousness in His time (Esther 7:9-10). Guarding your heart and circle of influence • Delight in the law of the Lord, not in “the counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1-2). • Walk with wise believers; “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). • Renew your mind daily to resist conformity to the world (Romans 12:2). • Cultivate humility, knowing God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Encouragement to live by the Word When faced with counsel that clashes with Scripture, remember that obedience to God is never wasted. Haman’s gallows became his own undoing, while Mordecai—who walked in integrity—was exalted (Esther 8:15). Stand on the sure foundation of God’s unchanging Word, and He will honor those who honor Him. |
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