Somehow despite many benefits associated with counsel, we often fail to prioritize this in our lives.
“The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger. So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.” Proverbs 24:5-6
Why not? Who would ignore such overwhelming promises?
I have seen four reasons why we neglect to include counsel in our activities and decision-making:
We are too busy.
Inviting counsel takes time. Because we live in such a fast-paced world with a deadline every minute and multiple demands per day, we often don’t have the time to invite men and women of wisdom to speak into our lives. TIP: Slow it down and plan ahead. This is easier said than done, but if we can stop and look a few weeks or months ahead at what is coming down the pipe, we have time to collect valuable wisdom.
We aren’t listening.
God has blessed me with multiple voices of counsel in my life. From my wife to my peers at work to my supervisor or employees, these people are eager to offer input on circumstances I’m navigating. If I’m focused on doing the work, versus considering the consequences, I will often miss the opportunity for their voices of experience or insight to help me choose more wisely. TIP: Listen. Actively listen when those around you are talking about your world. Taking notes makes me a more engaged and intentional listener.
When we resist counsel, we can get locked in a course of direction that is extremely unhelpful!
It hurts too much.
Sometimes counsel comes in the form of hard questions that I am uncomfortable responding too. If I shut down because the question opens up pain or discomfort, I will miss the potential gain. TIP: Be willing to confront hard questions. I have found that when I take time to consider why I don’t want to answer, I am often halfway down the road to hearing wisdom God may want to speak about moving forward.
We think we know it already.
We invest hours per day, week or month in the plans we prepare for our organizations. Certainly we would have thought of all the ramifications when we were preparing our steps. Maybe we even have years of experience in this area that others are lacking. I heard a speaker last week mention the idea of “optimism bias”. This suggests that we often feel like things are going to go well for us and will miss warning signs and reject counsel that suggests otherwise. TIP: Be open-minded with your plans. If God has blessed you with counselors, remember that they are a gift from Him. Don’t be so convinced in your intentions that you miss His guidance through trusted sources.
I wrote a number of suggestions on welcoming counsel in a recent Marketplace Monday, which you can access here.