How can Job 34:3 guide us in choosing godly influences and mentors? Verse for the Study Job 34:3 — “For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.” Understanding the Picture • Elihu compares the ear to the palate • Just as taste buds discern what is nourishing or harmful, the ear must discern what is true or false • Scripture treats this discernment as an active, ongoing duty, not a passive reaction Guidelines for Discernment • Filter every influence through the written Word, treating it as the ultimate standard of truth (2 Timothy 3:16–17) • Listen long enough to identify the flavor of a person’s words—whether they align with sound doctrine or contain even subtle error • Notice whether speech consistently exalts the Lord or subtly magnifies self, comfort, or compromise • Remember that truth and error often appear side by side; develop a sensitive “palate” by daily Scripture intake Qualities to Look For in a Mentor • Reverence for God and His Word, expressed in both speech and lifestyle (Psalm 1:1-2) • Wisdom that is lived out, not merely spoken (Proverbs 13:20) • Integrity shown in private as well as public settings (Proverbs 10:9) • Willingness to challenge and sharpen others with grace and courage (Proverbs 27:17) • A pattern of bearing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) Practicing the Principle Daily • Begin each day with Scripture, tuning the “ear” before other voices are heard • When exposed to teaching, preaching, podcasts, or conversations, silently compare the content with biblical truth • Keep a journal of verses that address current life decisions; revisit them when counsel is received • Cultivate friendships with believers who model humility and obedience, then invite their input • Gently distance yourself from voices that consistently weaken devotion or promote compromise (1 Corinthians 15:33) Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 13:20 — “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” • 1 Corinthians 15:33 — “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” • 1 John 4:1 — “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” • Psalm 1:1-2 — “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or set foot on the path of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” Encouragement to Commit • Ask the Lord for sharpened spiritual taste buds, then act on what He reveals, trusting that godly influences will draw you closer to Christ and equip you to do the same for others |
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