WHAT TO DO
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO
Get Godly Counsel

What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Get godly counsel! Talk to someone
with spiritual discernment.

1. Solomon said “Where no counsel [is], the people fall:” or more literally, the people fail (Proverbs 11:14a). The Hebrew word tachbulah {counsel} simply means direction, guidance and good advice. There will be times of confusion and uncertainty in your life. Worldliness and humanism can subtly creep into our hearts and cloud our minds with unsound reasoning. Therefore, we need godly individuals in our inner circle of friends who can minister God’s wisdom.

2. Solomon went on to say, “in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety” (Proverbs 11:14b). The word tshuw'ah {safety} means deliverance through human agency. I learned several years ago to establish a fellowship of counselors in my personal life. People who love God and who always have my best interest at heart. Believers such as my wife, my father, my pastor and my father-in-law are always available to share godly insight. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Get godly counsel! People who see life from God’s point of view.

WHY DO I NEED ADVICE?

“I’m self-sufficient! I don’t need other people nosing around in my life. I know what I’m doing! I can make it on my own.” Solomon made a harsh statement for people like you, “The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is]wise” (Proverbs 12:15). The very essence of self-reliance is pride! The believer must trust in the Lord and one of the ways we demonstrate our dependence in God is by getting advice. The know-it-all Christian is a fool! How ridiculous we are to think we don’t need God’s wisdom! When the believer begins to act independently of God, he is in big trouble. God has divinely equipped some very special people in your life to minister to you His grace and wisdom.

BELIEVER BEWARE

1. Let me interject a word of caution. You need to go to the right kind of people to get your advice. I am not saying you need a professional therapist! However, you must be very cautious in choosing your fellowship of advisors. David warned us when he said,
“Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Psalm 1:1). In
other words, you should not chose an rasha' {ungodly} person to give you guidance.

2. Living in the talk show era as we do, we must not get caught up in the pop-psychology of Ophra, Dr. Phil, and Jerry Springer. Since they base their advice on the humanistic theories of man, the child of God must shun this system of theoretical counseling. Secular psychotherapies such as Freudian, Adlerian, Skinnerian, Rogerian, cognitive, behavioral and family systems are complex creations of man. Therefore, the child of God must beware of philosophical concepts developed solely by the ingenuity of man. Secularism and Christianity are absolutely contrary to each other.

3. What should I do? Who should I seek counsel from? What about your parents? Parents are great advisors.

4. How about your pastor? There are times we need the wisdom of a godly pastor as we sift through the situations of life. Use the Bible!!!!!!

5. What about a spiritual deacon? I have known many devout deacons who are spirit-filled men who would qualify as an advisor.

6. How about a faithful Christian in your church or Sunday school class? I can
hear many of you ask the question, “What if they are not trained counselors?”
Psychologist and author, Dr. Martin Bobgan says, “Any person who can be used by the
Holy Spirit to lead another to salvation or along the way to sanctification is competent to
be used of God to give wise counsel without needing specialized biblical counseling
training.”[1]

7. The church has been influenced by the world! Who said you needed “professional” help? Dr. Phil? The secular media? Humanistic ideology has infiltrated the church! The Bible has been replaced by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). This manual is published by the American Psychiatric Association and deals with the various mental health disorders for both children and adults. Mental health professionals use this manual when working with patients in order to understand illnesses and to bill insurance companies.

8. Pastors, preachers and Christian counselors should leave the DSM IV manual to the professionals and use the Word of God when dealing with spiritual problems.

9. By the way, you do understand there is a difference between the physical, mental and spiritual problems of man? Thank God for physicians! Thank God for the mental health professional who deal with the various mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and depression.

10. Nevertheless, spiritual battles are won with the Word of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Being hypnotized to stop smoking is not good theology for the believer. Having an adulterous affair to spice up your marriage is absurd. Watching pornography to help your sex life is nuts! Smoking pot to calm your nerves is insane!

The point is we must go to the right people to get the right advice. Close knit, godly
friendships of accountability may be just what you need in the community of Christ.
Team up with a member of your Sunday school class to assist you to find your way in
your spiritual journey. Let them serve as a spiritual compass as you encounter your
portion of trials, tribulation and troubles.

[1] Martin and Deidre Bobgan, Against “Biblical Counseling” For the Bible, (Santa Barbara, California: Eastgate Publishers, 1994), 11.