Asking God for advice??
Do you ever ask God for advice? For me, it might be too infrequent. I ask close friends for advice. I ask my mentors for advice. I sometimes ask my daughters for advice. For many years I asked my wife her opinion on most subjects. But I am not in the habit of asking God for advice.
As a rule, I ask God to tell me exactly what He wants me to do. I would much prefer that God gives me straight-up, directive answers, so I don’t have to make decisions. Asking someone’s advice means that you reserve the right to decide whether or not to take their advice and then to act upon it. I usually have an idea about something I should or should not do, so I ask someone I trust, with full knowledge, that I may or may not accept their guidance.
But I don’t usually approach God this way. With The Almighty, I just want Him to tell me what to do. That makes everything cut and clear. If He tells me what to do and I don’t do it, then I am merely disobeying. So, at the beginning of the process, I choose whether or not I want to approach God on a particular issue. I expect that He will let me know, either from His Word or in some other manner, if my considered course of action is right or wrong. Then I choose what I will do, expecting that I will deal with some positive or negative consequences based upon accepting and acting upon His directive.
But to ask His advice is different. With my counselors, I explain my situation and my dilemma. I ask for their thoughts, and then I deliberate a choice. I fully expect to live with my choice because it is mine. So what if I approach God as a friend more often? Am I allowed to simply ask for advice? Is He okay with me not asking for a directive answer?
The answer is, “Yes.” Jesus’ brother, James, talks about this subject. James is discussing suffering when he provides this advice. James tells us to ask God for wisdom. He goes on to say that God will always grant wisdom without partiality or a judgmental attitude. Especially when you are suffering, you need to ask God for wisdom. Wisdom, by definition, means you choose what is best. You make the choices.
Asking for wisdom is more like asking for advice from a friend. It assumes a good, profitable, mutual relationship. Wisdom also assumes that someone is on a path towards maturity and not merely looking for pat answers and rules to keep. One author states that wisdom involves a healthy dose of perspective and the ability to make a sound judgment about a subject. I’ve met many rule keepers throughout my life, myself being one at times, and they are not very helpful.
It is interesting to me that James directs those while suffering to do two things: Rejoice (yeah, right!), and ask for wisdom. Could it be that in the middle of life’s most challenging situations, it is not rules but rather wisdom that is needed?
God seems so intent upon me growing up! Grown-ups don’t live by rules. They live by wisdom. Solomon boldly proclaims that wisdom reigns supreme. So I suggest that if you are in the midst of life’s most difficult situations, you ask your Friend for advice and insight. Rules and rule-keeping will not be beneficial at these times. But wisdom will see you through.
