How can Proverbs 11:14 guide us in avoiding mistakes seen in Mark 6:24? Scripture Focus Proverbs 11:14: “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but with many counselors there is deliverance.” Mark 6:24: “Then she went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ And her mother answered, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’” Why These Two Verses Belong Together • Proverbs warns that absence of sound counsel leads to collapse. • Mark gives a living example: Herodias’s daughter receives destructive guidance from a single, ungodly counselor and tragedy follows. What Went Wrong in Mark 6:24 • Limited counsel – she spoke to only one person. • Biased counsel – her mother’s hatred for John the Baptist colored the advice. • Rash decision – the request was made quickly to please the crowd and Herod. • Irreversible outcome – John’s execution could not be undone. Lessons Drawn from Proverbs 11:14 1. Seek an abundance of counselors. – Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” 2. Weigh the spiritual character of those advisers. – Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.” 3. Delay major choices until godly wisdom is gathered. – Proverbs 19:2b: “He who hurries his footsteps errs.” Practical Safeguards for Today • Build a circle of mature, Scripture-saturated believers you can consult. • Invite differing perspectives; one voice can skew a decision. • Compare every piece of advice with clear biblical principles (Acts 17:11). • Pray for discernment while you listen (James 1:5). • Beware of advice that feeds pride, revenge, or selfish gain (Galatians 5:19-21). Concrete Steps When Facing a Choice 1. Write the decision and its stakes. 2. List at least three trusted, godly people to approach. 3. Ask each one separately, noting Scriptures they cite. 4. Look for consistent themes that align with the Word. 5. Submit the matter to God, then act in faith (Proverbs 3:5-6). Key Takeaway Proverbs 11:14 calls us to surround ourselves with godly, multiple counselors. Doing so shields us from the disastrous single-source, self-serving counsel that led to the tragic request in Mark 6:24. |
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