Psalm 1:1-3 AMP – Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
In my profession, we call ourselves a number of things: attorney, attorney and counselor at law, counselor at law, and if we are eccentric, we will call ourselves counsellor at law. Some include hyphens, some do not. However we refer to ourselves in our profession, the consistency is that we are counseling and advising our clients in the area of major decisions. These decisions will have a profound impact upon their lives, their spouse’s lives, as well as their children’s lives. It is truly a responsibility not to tread upon lightly.
There are all types of counselors: legal, financial, marital, business, and school counselors. The list is endless. The commonality is that in whatever area they are working, they are advising their clients, patients, or students from a position of influence.
Who do you have surrounding you? Who are your counselors? Are you looking at the credentials of your counselors? Obviously, the counselor should have some knowledge of the subject in which they are counseling. Some counselors are just beginning their careers, while some are at a point in the middle. Some are quite experienced and savvy. While this is an important distinction in the counselor you choose, there is one additional qualification in Psalm 1:1-3 that is listed and is the most important if your objective is to be BLESSED. It says, “Blessed is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly…” Or, we could say it this way: Blessed is the man who walks and lives in the counsel of the godly.
Are you taking advice and counsel from people who are godly? This is the question to be asking yourself. Are you trying to get advice regarding your financial portfolio? Are you reading investment journals and watching the financial news? There is nothing necessarily wrong with doing this. However, the emphasis here is not to do it in according to ungodly counsel, but according to godly counsel. Have you interviewed your financial consultant? Is he or she giving you godly counsel or are you just passively and ignorantly listening to and taking their advice?
Are you seeking legal counsel? Have you sought an understanding of the foundation on which your attorney’s counsel is based? Is he or she providing you godly counsel? Are you seeking advice regarding parenting? Are you asking your friends who do not have a relationship with Jesus? Are they giving you godly parenting advice? These are extremely important questions to be asking.
We all need advice and counsel. We should look to Psalm 1:1-3 as our standard for those who qualify to be in the influential position to give us that important decision making and life changing information. We cannot blame the results of ungodly advice on the counselor. We need to change who we are seeking for advice and counsel.
The result of seeking and taking godly advice is that we will be like a tree planted by streams of water. If you have ever seen a tree like this, its leaves are continually nourished and are large and flourishing. Even if there is drought, this tree is not affected. Other trees, which are planted away from the streams of water, will experience the drought and their leaves will wither. The tree might even die if it is not receiving the proper nourishment. However, during this time, the tree that is planted by the streams of water will continue unaffected by the drought. This tree will experience blessing instead of cursing. This tree is what we will be like if we walk and live in the counsel of the godly.
Picture your life like this abundant tree. See yourself living the good life. Surround yourself with godly counselors and live and walk in that counsel. This will surely cause your leaves to flourish and you to bear your life’s fruit abundantly in due season. BASED ON FAITH.