Advice

Advice can be like what Alanis Morissette sings about in her 1996 song titled “Ironic”: “It’s the good advice that you just didn’t take”

I suspect that we are offered good advice at least once a day, and on some days, probably more than once. I am not saying that all the advice we get is good advice, but there are actually those who love us and really care about our well being. Their advice can be worth more than gold, and something that we should really listen to. Thinking that we should and then actually listening to and acting upon good advice is sometimes a challenge. We have our own thoughts on what should be done or the way it should be done, and we tend to put more emphasis on what we want to do rather than on what we should do. This may come as a shock to some of us, in that we think we’re never this way, but we can be a bit stubborn. If we are really truthful with ourselves, we may actually be more than a bit stubborn.

Advice can come from just about anywhere. We sometimes look to television, social media, peers, family, and friends for advice. I’m not convinced that these are unwise sources for advice, but we do need to think through this advice before we make our decision. If we are honest with ourselves, this free advice may be worth what it costs us. Poor advice may actually end up costing us more than what we care to pay.

Even if we consider and then take action on good advice, we are not guaranteed a good outcome. My thought is that good advice, coming from a good source, lends itself to a more positive outcome. If listening to and taking action upon bad advice, the outcome may not be pleasant nor will it be what we desire or need. The questionable part seems to be with our interpretation of the advice. And yes, there are times when we do need to ask questions as we listen to and consider the advice. Don’t assume the advice is good just because it comes from a good earthly source.

As we all know, there is one source that we can always go to for good advice. Jesus loves us and cares about our well being. After all, He wants us to spend eternity with Him.

Mark 12:28 – 33 (NKJV)

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 

As previously mentioned, advice can come from just about anywhere. However, the advice that Jesus gives about loving God and others by way of His commandment, is priceless advice that we should all follow throughout our lives.

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