In what ways can we ensure our advisors align with God's truth today? A Snapshot of 2 Chronicles 18:5 “So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, four hundred men, and asked them, ‘Should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?’ ‘Go up,’ they replied, ‘and God will deliver it into the hand of the king.’ ” The Lesson Behind the Scene • Four hundred voices agreed, yet they were wrong. • King Jehoshaphat sensed something was off and pressed for “another prophet of the LORD” (v. 6). • Quantity never guarantees truth; only fidelity to God’s revealed Word does. Tests for Truth-Aligned Advisors Today • Submitted to Scripture – Do they handle the Bible accurately, refusing to twist or ignore passages? (2 Timothy 3:16-17) • Christ-centered focus – Is Jesus exalted rather than personalities, trends, or self-promotion? (Colossians 1:18) • Evident spiritual fruit – “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” (Galatians 5:22-23). Character confirms credibility. • Whole-counsel honesty – Will they speak hard truths as well as comforting words? (Acts 20:27) • Tested by community – Are they accountable to a biblically healthy church, not lone rangers? (Hebrews 13:17) • Prayerful dependence – Do they seek the Spirit’s guidance over human strategy? (James 1:5) Practical Steps to Guard Your Circle 1. Compare every recommendation with clear Scriptural teaching; if it contradicts, reject it. 2. Cultivate a habit of personal Bible intake so you can recognize counterfeits (Psalm 1:2). 3. Ask, “Does this advice draw me closer to Christlikeness?”—not merely to quick success. 4. Observe long-term fruit in an advisor’s life, ministry, and relationships. 5. Invite multiple godly voices; avoid an echo chamber that simply mirrors your desires (Proverbs 11:14). 6. Pray before, during, and after counsel-seeking; the Spirit illuminates truth (John 16:13). Key Verses to Keep Handy • 1 John 4:1: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…” • Acts 17:11: The Bereans were “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” • James 3:17: “The wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle…” • Matthew 7:15-20: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” Living It Out This Week • Review recent advice you’ve acted on; measure it against the tests above. • Thank and encourage the counselors who consistently point you to God’s Word. • Where counsel proved unbiblical, repent of misplaced trust and realign with Scripture. |
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