Years ago, I was in Boy Scouts. I really enjoyed the challenges we experienced. Most of our outings would entail some sort of challenge. It was up to us to figure out a solution to the problem and then execute our solution to see if it worked – and therefore accomplishing the challenge.
On one particular weekend, we were given the task of constructing a bridge over a creek. We were given the main rope to be used as the base but the rest was up to us and a spool of bailing twine. Bailing twine is strong but it won’t support a group of boys hanging on it as they cross the creek. We had to make it stronger. Fortunately for us, we had just learned how to make rope by twisting multiple strands of twine together. We had even built a little rope making machine that twisted the twine correctly so we could make the rope faster. Hours passed. Three single strands of twine were combined together to make a stronger rope. The short ropes were tied together to form a longer rope that crossed the creek and created the hand rails. Shorter pieces of rope were tied from the “hand rails” to the center rope to make a “V” thus making a more stable bridge. Eventually, it was all completed and we were all able to cross the bridge with all our gear safely.
Any time we make important decisions, especially financial decisions, we need to seek counsel from a multitue of counselors. The bigger the problem, the more counselors we should have! Proverbs 15:22 reads, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed”(NIV). Who should we seek counsel from?
- Ask the Lord. We need to ask the Lord for direction and then listen for His direction.
- Scriptures. If the Bible is clear on an issue, then you don’t have to go any further. If the Bible is unclear on a particular issue then seek the counsel of Godly people.
- Godly people. Your spouse (if you are married) should always be your first counsel. Your marriage is a partnership, all decisions should be discussed. Your parents have wisdom gained from years of experience. Even if your parents are not believers, you honor them by seeking their counsel. Other Godly people that you trust and respect. Small groups are a great place to start making those relationships.
- Professionals. Even if they are not believers, we should seek technical advice, like legal or accounting, from professionals and then our final decision should be based on the counsel of those who know the Lord
It is important to remember that we are not an island. As members of the Body of Christ, we are fully dependent on each other. King Solomon, the wisest person in the world, put it this way in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12,
“Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
We would have been all wet if we hadn’t triple-braided that twine. Thanks for the counsel King Solomon!