The Definition of Good Advice
June 20th, 2006
Corey Rose
Prov. 15:22-23 Plans fail without good advice, but they succeed with the advice of many others. People enjoy giving good advice. Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing. (NCV)
We like to give advice to others. In fact, Prov. 15:23 tells us that we actually “enjoy” giving advice - not just any advice, but “good” advice. Why? Because when we are able to give “good advice” to others, we can make a tremendous difference in their lives. As Prov. 15:22 reminds us, good advice can help others succeed. What we say can help make our friends, spouse, children, grandchildren, employer, employee, coach, player, neighbor, pastor,…successful. And there’s something incredibly satisfying, even “pleasing,” when we’re able to have that kind of impact on those around us.
But what is good advice? When it comes right down to it, I think the end of Prov. 15:23 defines it well - “Saying the right word at the right time.” It makes me think about times when I have given my daughters poor advice, not because I didn’t have the right thing to say to them, but because I shared my “right words” with them at the wrong time. Or the “right times” I have spoken up to advise others, but really didn’t have any “right words” to share with them. It also reminds me of the times when someone had the right thing to say to me at the right time, and how much that impacted my life, as well as their own. Their advice to me changed both our lives!
Father, help me to listen to the advice of those You have placed in my life. Thank you for those who have given me such good advice over the years, and for how much You have used them to change me. Help me to be someone in Your eyes who gives “good advice” to others. Teach me daily the joy of saying the right word at the right time to those who seek my advice, that I may play even a small part in helping them find true success in You
June 20th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
Greetings from Roma. I hope Eugene’s summer is treating you all well.
I think the right time and right words of advice are only the first steps in impacting people around us. Another key component is an accepting spirit to the advice being given. I know in my life, there have been times when the right words were said, at a time when I needed to hear them, yet I was unresponsive because of my spirit, and its desire to be right and not need the advice offered. I hope as I have become a more mature Christian, I am able to now accept these influential words, even when my nature wants to reject them.
Thanks for the post, Corey. It has been a good reminder to me.