Bad advice can lead to trouble, and the Bible warns us about it. Today, we’ll learn how to seek godly counsel instead.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Bad Children
What Does The Bible Say About Bad Counsel
Proverbs 12:15
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”
This verse highlights the importance of seeking wise counsel and not relying solely on our own understanding. It reminds us that fools often believe their own way is right, but the wise are willing to listen to advice and consider alternative perspectives.
Proverbs 19:20
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”
This verse emphasizes the significance of being open to receiving advice and accepting correction. It assures us that by humbly listening and learning, we will grow in wisdom and be seen as wise in the end.
Psalm 1:1
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.”
This verse reminds us of the importance of choosing our companions wisely. It encourages us to avoid the counsel and influence of those who do not align with God’s ways, as it can lead us astray from His path of blessings.
Proverbs 13:20
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
This verse emphasizes the impact of the company we keep. It urges us to surround ourselves with wise and godly people, as their influence will lead us to wisdom. Conversely, associating with fools can bring harm and negative consequences into our lives.
Proverbs 15:22
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers, they succeed.”
This verse highlights the value of seeking counsel and advice when making plans and decisions. It teaches us that by seeking the wisdom and insights of others, we are more likely to succeed and avoid failure caused by our own limited perspective.
Proverbs 14:7
“Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.”
This verse cautions us to distance ourselves from the company of fools, as they lack wisdom and knowledge. It reminds us that engaging in conversations or seeking advice from those who lack understanding will not lead us to truth or enlightenment.
Proverbs 1:15-16
“My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.”
This verse advises against following the counsel and influence of the wicked. It warns us of the destructive paths they take and the evil actions they engage in. We are encouraged to resist their guidance and choose righteousness instead.
Proverbs 22:24-25
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
This verse cautions us against forming close relationships with those who have a quick temper. It warns that their anger and behavior can be contagious, causing us to adopt their negative qualities and become trapped in the same destructive patterns.
Proverbs 24:6
“Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.”
This verse recognizes the need for guidance and counsel, even in times of conflict or difficulty. It reminds us that victory and success often come through seeking the wisdom and insights of others, rather than relying solely on our own understanding.
Proverbs 26:4-5
“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”
These verses present a paradoxical approach to dealing with fools. The first verse advises us not to lower ourselves to their level by engaging in their foolishness. The second verse instructs us to respond to a fool in a way that exposes their folly, preventing them from seeing themselves as wise.
Proverbs 9:9
“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”
This verse acknowledges the receptivity of the wise and righteous to counsel and instruction. It assures us that those who are already wise and righteous have the capacity to continue growing in wisdom and understanding through ongoing learning and teaching.
Proverbs 11:14
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of wise counsel in leadership and decision-making. It reveals that a lack of guidance can lead a nation to ruin, while victory and success are more likely to be achieved through the input and advice of many advisers.
Psalm 73:24
“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”
This verse expresses the assurance that God’s counsel and guidance are trustworthy and lead us on the path to glory. It reminds us that as we lean on His wisdom, He will faithfully direct our steps and ultimately bring us into His eternal presence.
Psalm 119:24
“Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
This verse expresses a deep reverence and delight in God’s Word. It reveals the understanding that His statutes and teachings serve as our ultimate source of guidance and counsel, providing us with wisdom and direction in every aspect of life.
Proverbs 16:22
“Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.”
This verse contrasts the outcomes of prudence and folly. It highlights that prudence, which includes seeking wise counsel, is a source of life and blessings to those who practice it. Meanwhile, folly, which neglects sound advice, leads to negative consequences for the foolish.
Proverbs 27:9
“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”
This verse acknowledges the value of genuine friendship and the uplifting effect of heartfelt advice. It compares the delight brought by perfume and incense to the joy that comes from a friend who provides sincere and wise guidance.
James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
This verse encourages us to seek wisdom from God when we lack understanding. It assures us that God is eager to provide wisdom to those who humbly ask, promising to give generously and without judgment.
Proverbs 15:31
“Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.”
This verse highlights the importance of receiving correction and embracing it as a means of growth and wisdom. It promises that those who are receptive to life-giving correction will find acceptance and belonging among the wise.
Proverbs 28:26
“Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.”
This verse contrasts trusting in oneself with walking in wisdom. It reveals that relying solely on our own understanding and counsel is foolish. However, those who choose the path of wisdom and seek wise counsel find protection and safety.
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This well-known verse encourages us to entrust our lives and decisions to God, recognizing that His wisdom and understanding far exceed our own. It urges us to submit to His guidance and promises that He will direct our paths and lead us on the right course.
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
This verse signifies the importance of God’s Word as a guiding light in our lives. It highlights that His Word illuminates our path, providing direction and clarity in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.
Proverbs 20:18
“Plans are established by seeking advice; so, if you wage war, obtain guidance.”
This verse stresses the need for seeking advice and guidance when making plans or facing challenges. It emphasizes that obtaining wisdom from others is vital in establishing successful plans or engaging in any form of conflict.
Proverbs 5:12
“You have let yourself be led astray by your own foolishness.”
This verse serves as a warning against being deceived by our own foolishness and disregarding wise counsel. It highlights the necessity of humility and teachability to avoid falling into the traps of our own misguided decisions.
Proverbs 1:30-31
“Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.”
These verses depict the consequences of rejecting God’s advice and rebuke. It implies that those who reject God’s wisdom and go their own way will suffer the negative outcomes of their choices and actions.
Proverbs 10:17
“Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.”
This verse underscores the significance of heeding discipline and correction. It suggests that embracing correction not only leads to life for the individual but also prevents others from being led astray by their misguided choices and behavior.
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
This verse teaches the importance of seeking counsel and confessing our sins. It reveals that trying to hide our sins and ignore wise advice leads to a lack of prosperity, but humbly confessing and renouncing them opens the door to God’s mercy and restoration.
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
This verse communicates the value of healthy and constructive relationships. It illustrates that just as iron blades become sharper when they rub against each other, we grow in wisdom and character when we engage in meaningful interactions with other individuals.
Proverbs 21:30
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.”
This verse affirms the supremacy and unfailing wisdom of the LORD. It declares that no human wisdom, insight, or plan can prevail against the guidance and sovereignty of God.