“So Tim, what do you think? I am hoping to get a huge vinyl Gospel chart mounted on two poles that can be rolled together like a scroll. I plan to get a bunch of young people to come with me to Rue Ste-Cathérine in Montréal. It’s the city’s busiest street lined with department stores, shops, and restaurants. Christmas shopping is the busiest time and the sidewalks are crowded. We will unfurl the chart on the sidewalk. We will try to stop shoppers and interact with them as they pass by the chart. I really want to do something for the Lord and I think this is it. What do you think, Tim?”
“Absolutely, go for it Scott. You may annoy a lot of frantic, last-minute shoppers but you couldn’t go wrong doing something like that for the Lord. If that’s what’s on your heart – just do it. God be with you.”
King David looked around his elegant cedar mansion and thought: “Here I am crawling out of bed in the morning in this cedar royal palace. It’s an awesome home. But while I sleep with the fragrance of cedar soothing my nostrils, the ark of the covenant of the Lord rests in oh such primitive circumstances surrounded by curtains. If I dwell in a house of cedar, then the Lord deserves to dwell in a magnificent temple made especially for Him. Nothing but the best for the Lord!”
So David shared with Prophet Nathan his plans, who then immediately endorsed the idea and gave his blessing to the King’s desire:
Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 1 Chronicles 17:3
Prophet Nathan, are you able to render instantaneous decisions or give on-the-spot endorsements without even praying about it? Just because you are a prophet of the Lord, don’t you think you should pray about it first and get back to David? What if the Lord has a different perspective on this issue?
Guess what? Nathan’s off-the-cuff advice was wrong – dead wrong! God let him know that very night.
It came about the same night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,”Go and tell David My servant, ‘Thus says the LORD,”You shall NOT build a house for Me to dwell in.” 1 Chronicles 17:3-4
The prophet had to go back to King David with revised advice. This time he had direction from the Lord. God’s plan was to have David’s son build it at a later date – but definitely not David.
Beware of counsel that comes quickly and all too freely – without prayer. Beware of off-the-cuff advice from Christians, if you know they haven’t sought the Lord’s counsel on the matter. Some personalities offer an abundance of free advice – even if you haven’t asked for it. The ranks of armchair consultants and advisors never seem to be depleted. Also, Christians you respect can give advice that is dead wrong.
Yes, by all means, consult with Christians and ask for their advice and counsel but when you go to them, first ask them to pray about it and get back to you. Unless, of course, you are asking them something that is already obvious in the Scriptures. Then just listen to them quote the verse. They don’t need to pray about it and you don’t either. Just obey the Word of God. A verse like: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” (2 Corinthians 6:14) is obvious and direct and there is no room for discussion. You don’t even need to pray about whether you date an unsaved person or not. The Bible says: “Don’t!” But where it is not so clear, seek advice from believers whom you respect and then ask them to pray about it too.
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
Generally speaking, if your nearest and dearest Christian friends are gently sending you little warning signals about your plans – pay close attention. Or, if your Christian parents are flashing Danger-Ahead lights or a Godly elder is graciously trying to steer you in another direction, you should think twice about the choice you are making. Pray often and get concrete direction from the Lord before you make a decision to bulldoze ahead.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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