Good Advice

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. – Isaiah 33:6

We live in a world that is filled with uncertainty – especially in these troubling economic times – things that we often put our reliance on have been found to be a shakable foundation. Many have lost jobs, lost investments, lost business…and given the past year, it is certainly difficult to predict what the coming year might bring.

I read an article in the Houston Chronicle back in August that reported many people were seeking the advice of psychics as they tried to plan their approach to their financial future. Hopefully most of us see the foolishness in advice-seeking of this sort. However, more often then I think we realize, we go to outside sources that we feel are reliable for all types of advice or wisdom. Perhaps the source is a parent, a friend, a mentor, an expert or specialist in a certain field, or even books. Now certainly seeking advice from these more reliable sources isn’t wrong, but we may be ignoring a better source.

That better source is the perfect in wisdom – he promises to lead us in the way we should go. That source, of course, is our Holy God – but unfortunately he is often our last resort rather than first refuge. Isaiah calls the coming Messiah a rich store of salvation, but also of wisdom and knowledge – and gives us a simple formula for accessing that rich store – the simple fear of the Lord.

What does it means to fear the Lord and why is it the key to the storehouse? I’m sure there are many definitions and opinions on what it means to fear the Lord. But, I’m going to throw out my own. I believe that fearing the Lord is honor, fear, reverence, worship and submission to a Holy God because of his power, perfection, and love. He is a God who is worthy – a ‘God of kept promises, unwavering protection, sustained life, and supreme justice. To every situation He administers perfect knowledge, counsel and remedy. He has never failed, He will never fail, He can never fail’ (John Duncan – Ligonier Ministries). And when we place ourselves in the proper position of fearing God, we allow him to pour all of those qualities into our lives.

Which will you seek? Good advice or God advice? I challenge you the next time you ‘just really need to talk to someone’ about whatever challenge or decision you are facing that you first seek God and allow His word and His Spirit to be your first source of wisdom and knowledge. You will be amazed at what he will show you.

If you want to join in the discussion, I’d love to hear stories of how you have seen evidence of God’s wisdom and knowledge in your life.

And….I have another incredible word of God that can be plagiarized into a prayer – it is one I say everyday – because God promises the same Spirit that rested on Christ is in us – and I want everything that Spirit has to offer! So I pray Isaiah 11:3 over myself – and I pray this word over you today:

I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will rest of you – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and that you will delight in the fear of the Lord.