23/02/2011 - Mind your counsellors!

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“Therefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction.” (II Chronicles 22: 4)

The kingdom of Judah was going from bad to worse. Jehoshaphat, Ahaziah’s grandfather, was a great man of God but he made as mistake when he persuaded his son, Jehoram, to get married to Athaliah, the  daughter of evil Jezebel and Ahab’s, king of Israel. Soon afterwards Jehoram adopted the witchcraft practices of Ahab’s family and murdered his brothers. The Arabian troops stroke against him to murder all of his children except for his youngest. Jehoram died so, Ahaziah, his youngest son reigned in his place. And he also did evil to the eyes of God because the members of Ahab’s family were his counsellors.

Had Ahaziah paid heed to the Law of God and the books of the Chronicles, he’d have realized that his mother’s family was wicked and his counsellors weren’t worthy at all. Yet, bewitched by Athaliah, his mother, he preferred to take the evil way. Everything would’ve been different had he not let himself be carried away through the forbidden paths. It’s necessary to pay attention to the religious messages conveyed to us today with the boom of the Gospel in our country these days. There are people who still don’t fully understand the work of God; yet, they already began preaching the Word to others. Well, those who are guided by a blind man will fall in a pit along with him (Luke 6: 39).

The truth is that we don’t need counsellors. We have One Pastor whom we must follow (John 10: 11 – 16). People who haven’t been completely delivered yet – those who are still carried away by temptations; they’re always in trouble and suffering – would surely make others feel so good if they stopped seeing themselves as masters and Prophets to humbly pay heed to the Scriptures. How can anyone who is “burning” inside by sin give counselling to someone else, whoever they might be? First, they must remove the plank from their own eye, and then they’ll see clearly to remove the speck from their brother’s eye (Matthew 7: 5).

The duty of a counsellor is something of utmost importance because decisions might be made according to the counselling received. So, if I teach someone something wrong, they might take that seriously to the point of taking the wrong attitude as well. So, I’ll be accounted for their downfall and also the harm caused to them later on. If I’m not entitled to be of any assistance I’d better shut up or only say something in the light of the Word of God. All messengers of God must declare His Words (John 3: 34).

Mind your counsellors! How can they help you out if they haven’t been victorious by their faith or if they’re facing serious problems? The Lord’s not evil. The reason why He’s not operating in your favor is that there are some things which must be removed from your life. Listen! A heart that doesn’t forgive or that sees only what it thinks is good for it or someone whose eyes are only for themselves or their family isn’t being used by the Most High and won’t ever be either. We know a tree by its fruit! (Matthews 7. 17-20).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares