One of the most important things a leader can do is to seek wise advice. Leaders are to surround themselves with wise counselors. These are to be men and women who have the experience and expertise necessary to provide insight. While the final say is with the one in charge, it should’ve never be decided without consulting those who can give clarity and wisdom. Listen to wise counsel. God has put those people into your life for a purpose.
1 Kings 12:7
They replied, “Today if you will be a servant to this people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.
The Best Interests of Others
When Solomon died, his counselors told his son, Rehoboam, what it would take to be a successful king. His father had put a heavy yoke upon the people building the temple and many other projects. Now they were looking for a leader who would look out for their best interests. Sadly, Rehoboam didn’t listen to his father’s counselors but listened to his friends instead and made the burden even more burdensome. This led to a revolt and split the kingdom of Israel in two.
Be Wise in Who You Listen to
We don’t listen to wise counsel anymore. The experience of older generations is cast aside in favor of the opinions of our peers. We survey those closest to us and come up with our decisions based on the current thoughts of the day. All of this leads to a lack of direction. God has put the elderly in our lives so that we can learn from their experiences and seek their sage advice. They have been down the road we are traveling and can spare us the pain and agony of foolish decisions.
Listen to Wise Counsel
Be someone who seeks out and listens to wise counsel. Surround yourself with people who care about your welfare and are willing to speak into your life. Don’t be afraid of accountability and correction. All of these are meant to sharpen our skills and focus. When we listen to wise counsel, we avoid foolish mistakes and curtail the wasted time and energy doubling back. We won’t get all the decisions right, but we will eliminate a lot of the wrong ones.