WATCH OUT FOR THOSE FRIENDS WHO THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL
We should be careful when asking someone for advice, and we should also watch who we partner with. Absalom made a huge mistake when he asked a person, who did not fear God, for advice.
He asked someone who was only concerned about the consequences, and their advice led him to eliminate every possibility to reconcile with his father David, and the people of God.
There are people who are not good company for us and they can lead us to sin to such a degree, that we run the risk of insulting God, beyond any hope of reconciliation.
When I was in school I remember there were two groups of people. There was a group of friends whose passion was to have fun, get in trouble, ditch their classes and waste time, “to live the moment”, etc. There was another group of friends (that was strangely smaller) made up of those who lived beyond the moment. Their desire was to change the course of their lives; they studied hard because they saw a different future. They would read while others went to the movie theater, they did their homework while others had fun, they were working their way out of poverty, while others relaxed and watched television. I had the option to decide who I would partner with; they were all my acquaintances, but the second group were my friends.
When you ask for advice, ask someone who fears God.
Ask someone who will not always tell you what you want to hear; but who will guide you to do what is right and to seek peace with people and God.
Think about it:
Who do you go to when you need advice?
Are they acquaintances or are they trustworthy, wise people who fear God?
Have you ever asked for advice, and once you took it, it affected your life?