Counsel Be happy with instructions: Proverbs 10:8 The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.(nlt) Search out righteous counsel Proverbs 12:5 The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful Psalm 37:30-31 30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. 31 The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. Stay away from wrong counseling Proverbs 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. Counsel will help you avoid and stay away from get rich quick schemes Listen to advice Proverbs 12:15, The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 14:15 A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Continue to learn Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Have more than one adviser Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Proverbs 24:5-6 5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; 6 for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. Delight in counsel Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. Psalm 119:17-24 17 Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 19 I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands. 22 Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep your statutes. 23 Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. 24 Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
Finding financial counsel November 16, 2004 - by Crown Financial Ministries A commonly asked question from Christians seeking advice on financial matters is, How can I find good Christian counsel? Perhaps even more fundamental would be the question, How can I tell when I find good Christian counsel? Limitations in finding good financial counsel It is very difficult to receive unbiased advice from someone who is trying to sell a particular product. So, an obvious limitation that Christians should easily recognize is whether the people giving them financial advice are actually giving wise advice or just a sales pitch. A second limitation is to find financial counselors with like minds, attitudes, and principles. Many financial advisors who profess to be Christians live lifestyles that are far from Christlike. Likewise there are those who are very good Christians, but they have no knowledge or wisdom concerning the biblical principles of finances. There are many guidelines in God s Word for seeking and selecting good godly counsel. So, although seeking counsel is advised, selecting wise counsel is imperative. Principles for seeking and selecting good financial counsel Listed below are four basic principles that Christians need to consider in seeking and selecting good, godly financial counsel. 1. Seek and select Christian counsel. Seek and select financial counselors on the basis of a common value system. For Christians, that means to seek counsel from those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! (Psalm 1:1). This does not imply that non-christians are incapable of giving good financial advice. However, the standards by which decisions are made must be based on God s Word and Christ-like character, rather than on the world s humanistic get-ahead-at-all-costs standards. 2. Seek and select wise counsel. He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm (Proverbs 13:20). The fact that people are professed Christians does not qualify them to be good financial counselors. All too often Christians throw wisdom and caution to the wind when it comes to taking advice from professed Christians. Christian counselor and counselee alike must be in regular communication with God and seek His wisdom before any decision is made. So, not only must counselors be knowledgeable in areas of biblical principles of finance but they also must regularly seek God s wisdom in prayer and in the study of His Word.
3. Seek and select multiple qualified counselors. Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed (Proverbs 15:22). No financial counselor can be an expert in all areas of finance. The areas of taxes, securities, stocks, bonds, and real estate are so complex in today s society that only with a variety of good financial counselors who are experts in their respective fields can Christians hope to attain a well-rounded perspective of biblical financial principles. 4. Weigh all counsel given. The naïve believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps (Proverbs 14:15). The purpose of counsel is to offer suggestions, alternatives, and options not to make decisions on behalf of counselees. Even the best financial counsel in the world lacks an essential element necessary to make sound and wise financial decisions knowledge of God s plan for the lives of the counselees. Therefore, there should never be a decision made unless it has been presented to God in prayer first. The peace of God or lack of peace as a result of prayer is an indisputable indicator of God s preferred directive. In addition, each decision should be tested against God s Word. If it is not consistent with the purity and the spirit of God s Word, the decision should be rejected. Counselors motives and actions also should be evaluated. If counselors will deceive others on the counselees behalf, they also will most likely eventually deceive the counselees. Review the five-year track record of any and all people who offer their counsel. Just because they are Christians does not mean that they have been successful in their financial counsel. Conclusion The best method for locating good, godly financial counsel is asking other Christians who have been helped. This could be fellow church attendees, pastors, or Christian businesspeople. Additionally, this type of information could perhaps be found at Christian professional associations, societies, and organizations both locally and nationally. Without a doubt, good and godly financial counsel is available for all who seek such counsel. Prayer, wisdom, and caution must be foremost in order to select the most qualified counselors and those whose lives and expertise conform to God s will for the lives of the counselees.
Selecting financial counsel March 31, 2005 - by Crown Financial Ministries "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel" (Proverbs 1:5). A commonly asked question is, "How can I find good Christian counsel?" But perhaps even more fundamental would be the question, "How can I tell when I find good Christian counsel?" There are many guidelines in God s Word for seeking and selecting good counsel. The purpose of counsel is to aid us in making our decisions, not to actually make them for us. Too often we want someone to tell us what to do. When you allow someone else to tell you what to do, with rare exception you re going to get bad advice. Principles for selecting counselors Principle #1: Christian Counsel Select your counselors on the basis of a common value system. For the Christian, this means to choose those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" (Psalm 1:1). In no way does this imply that non-christians can t give good advice. Some of them give better advice than many Christians. But the standards by which decisions are made in our society today are quite often incompatible with God s standards. Principle #2: Multiple Counselors "Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22). No one can be expert enough in all areas of finance for anyone to depend on his or her counsel exclusively. The areas of taxes, securities, stocks, bonds, and real estate are so complex today that only with a variety of good counselors can you really get good advice. Principle #3: Weigh All Counsel "The naive believes everything, but the prudent man considers his steps" (Proverbs 14:15). Even the best counsel in the world (including Christian) lacks an essential ingredient necessary to make your decision: God s plan for your life. Anything that robs us of God s peace is contrary to God s plan for us. How to weigh counsel Even a bad advisor is right occasionally and usually will be recommended on the basis of an isolated correct guess. How do you weed out the "guessers" from the counselors? 1. Test Their Counsel. When I m evaluating someone s counsel in an area with which I am unfamiliar, I will pick a subject about which we should both be knowledgeable and test that person. If I find the answers to be fundamentally wrong in an area I do understand, then I avoid counsel in areas I don t understand. 2. Track Record. Proverbs 21:5 says, "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage." A good test of a counselor s expertise is past performance. Any time you choose to invest time and money with someone who has less than a five-year
verifiable track record, you should assume that you re part of the "on-the-job training." 3. References. Few people ask for multiple references from a financial counselor, and even fewer verify those references. Proverbs 21:29 says, "A wicked man shows a bold face." Most so-called advisors count on a good front in hopes to satisfy clients. Check their references thoroughly. Conclusion The best method for locating good, Christian counsel is from other Christians who have been helped. Quite often, if you ll just ask others at your church, someone will recommend a good resource. Without a doubt, the expert Christian counsel we need is available if we seek it diligently.