Proverbs 12:6
Bad advice is a deadly trap, but good advice is like a shield.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have ever trapped a “critter” – even a mouse, you know that one of the key components of a successful trap is good bait. Raw bacon works particularly well for several varmints, because it is enticing, yet slippery and hard to grab without getting caught. Contrast the image of a trap for a pesky critter with the pen or cage in which you keep your pet, perhaps to keep him/her safe from other animals (even the two-legged kind!) outside. Maybe you even have a dog house or shed that serves as a shield for your pet against the elements of everyday weather … sun, rain, heat, cold, and more.
Now think about receiving bad advice – and acting on it versus the benefits of good advice - and how it affects your life. If you have ever received – and taken – bad advice, you know it can affect you as seriously as a deadly trap and may cause you mental, emotional, and/or physical ruin. Good advice, though, can protect you from making costly mistakes. Good advice can bring you blessings and joy and positive outcomes and shield you from the hardships of life.
Learning to recognize whether advice is good or bad often comes with experience and maturity. But praying about advice – before you give it or take it – can make a huge difference. Asking yourself if the advice lines up with the word of God also helps. Asking God to guide your steps and give you wisdom and discernment is another vital component.
Often, bad advice looks good on the surface. Sometimes we want to take bad advice, even when we know we shouldn’t … like when a friend says, “C’mon … go to the party… what can it hurt?” or your boss says, “If anybody asks, you don’t know anything about this,” or even when someone tells you, “Trust me … I’ll take care of everything,” and you know this is really never going to happen.
We must learn to analyze advice based on wisdom and discernment – and prayerful guidance from God … not the whims and desires of our heart. This is the “bacon” in Satan’s traps … and it will get us caught in a life of disappointment, misery, and possibly serious trouble. Whether we are taking advice from someone else – or doling it out ourselves – we need to prayerfully consider every angle and make sure that God is in the details … and shielding us all the way.
©2010 Debbie Robus
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