Ecclesiastes 4:13 English Standard Version (ESV) Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.

There are two kinds of advice, good and bad. We probably have experience with both. Even those who love us are capable of giving bad advice. How can we know for sure if advice is good or bad?

Begin with praying for Godly wisdom. James tells us God gives freely of His wisdom for all who ask. That is risk free advice. The best advice is free and without an element of danger.

Pay someone for advice and be warned that their primary interest is to get paid and make a living. Wisdom will allow you to judge the value in paid advice. It is wise to get an inspector to examine a property for both value and legal adherence before buying property. Wisdom hires the inspector rather than allowing someone else to pay for it because then they work for someone else.

Much of the advice we take in this world comes with risk. Wisdom mitigates risk down to a reasonable amount that we can live with.

When it comes to Kingdom living, fellowship of the saints, discipleship, doctrine and theology the only advocate we need is Jesus Christ. Godly wisdom in the elders is required to administrate any church. Godly wisdom is required to pastor a flock, teach Sunday school or lead a study group. The only way to recognize Godly wisdom is in having close personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Godly wisdom shows up in demonstration of faith. What we do by way of our faith walk is seen by all.

The only risk in that is being seen to be human. We cannot escape that. Exposing ourselves to our own weaknesses is a good thing. The result is correction and realignment to God’s instructions for this abundant life. We do not want to end up being an old foolish king that ignores sound advice.

Psalm 49:12-14 English Standard Version

¹² Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³ This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah
¹⁴ Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.

Yesterday these words were used: “The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and some of us are not as experienced at hearing the Holy Spirit as others.”

We all want to get this life in Christ right. We care enough about this life to take the time to read His Word, study His Word, and try our best to have a proper understanding.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 English Standard Version

¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of Godmay be complete, equipped for every good work.

Footnotes 2 Timothy 3:17 That is, a messenger of God (the phrase echoes a common Old Testament expression)

My inclusion of what others said that came before me is a clear indication that I do not know it all. I have no reason to boast about my knowledge of His Word since I rely so heavily upon the works of others. This whole line of thinking was prompted by my issue with the word Sheol. If I am a messenger of God or at least make a good conscious effort, then I should know what I am taking about. What I discovered in my search for understanding of Sheol was this in the ISBE.

The etymology of the word is uncertain. A favorite derivation is from sha’al, “to ask”; others prefer the sha’al, “to be hollow.”

It literally means “I have nothing. I need to ask.” The history of the word is an ancient attempt to describe a condition they know absolutely nothing about. Man in his discomfort will try and fill this void, this nothing, with foolish confidence as noted in Psalm 46. The more people that he can get to agree with him, the better he feels.

The best trained man in foolish confidence said, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”