UNGODLY COUNSEL - BEWARE
By W. G. Guy
Counsel is defined as: to give advice; provide a directive; give legal representation as a lawyer – (referred to as a counselor in a court of law).
Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Scripture warns us not to get our advice, or counsel, from those who do not have a personal relationship with God or Jesus, who is the source of truth and righteousness. The kind of advice or counsel that comes from the ungodly has its source in worldly carnal and even evil wisdom; not godly or heavenly wisdom.
James 3:15 & 17 – This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. …. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The result of ungodly counsel or wisdom will ultimately lead to disaster, one way or another. Man’s carnal wisdom and counsel may seem right at the moment but in the end it will result in great harm.
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
This fact is so important that it is listed twice in scripture:
Proverbs 16:25 – There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Consider what a lawyer/counselor does in a criminal court; they defend a criminal in order to avoid prosecution for their crime. In a case where a person did not commit the crime, the counsel is seeking the truth. But in most cases where the crime was committed, the lawyer/counselor is denying the truth and trying to hide it in order to avoid prosecution; which denies justice. Carnal man will always make excuses for sinful, even criminal behavior.
In Psalm 1:1 we are also told not to associate with sinners, those who practice ungodly and immoral behavior. Such an environment with those who practice sin is one that will be adopted by those who associate with them, even if there was no intent to do so. For example, this is very evident of those who are drawn to associate with or join membership in youthful gangs. Generally, their gang initiation consists of committing a serious crime.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Next we are told not to identify with those that are scornful. Those that are scornful are those that mock and have contempt for what is true, legitimate, lawful, proper and righteous.
Those that are ungodly, sinners and scornful even applies to false teachers, preachers and prophets. Those who some people look up to for their guidance and religious instruction. However, if such leadership does not have a real relationship with God through Jesus Christ, their counsel will be worthless, even destructive. Jesus instructed us to recognize them by their fruit – the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, which is their character and nature.
Matthew 7:15-16 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Jesus goes on to tell us more about these false preachers, teachers and prophets:
Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Note that Jesus said that there would be many that fall into this category that work iniquity, which is sin, rebellion, or doing their own thing. Such false ministers can give ungodly counsel.
Matthew 24:4-5 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ (anointed); and shall deceive many.
This deception also applies to those from whom people seek professional counseling for marital, mental or emotional problems. For example, I have heard professional marriage counselors say that there is no one single cause for divorce. This is absolutely wrong; there absolutely is one cause for marital problems and divorce. That one cause is SELFISHNESS: Selfishness on the part of one, or even both parties in a marriage, can destroy the relationship! Selfishness is the refusal of one or both parties to merge as one entity being knit together as husband and wife.
Genesis 2:24 – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Selfishness is self-love, preferring self over their spouse.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Colossians 3:18-19 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
(Note: the submission of the wife to the husband cannot be imposed or demanded, but is earned because of his love for her; she submits to love.)
Titus 2:4 – that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Any counsel that denies these scriptural facts is going to be worthless and comes from a carnal source. Carnal sources are the works of the flesh which are ungodly. You don’t want your counsel coming from such ungodly sources because it is definitely not of the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Fruit of the Spirit is not only to be seen in those who minister to us, but it is also to be seen in every born-again believer. When this Fruit is present in one’s life, it helps us to override the selfish carnal nature of the flesh.
Galatians 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Note that this Fruit begins with LOVE: it then continues with the character and nature of God, and Jesus Christ, that is given to us to live a godly Christ centered life! Those who have this Fruit of the Spirit are then able to give GODLY COUNSEL to others!
Now consider the rest of Psalm 1 for the blessing of those who are godly and righteous compared to those who are the ungodly.
Psalm 1:2-6 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
SELAH – Think on these things!
By W. G. Guy
Counsel is defined as: to give advice; provide a directive; give legal representation as a lawyer – (referred to as a counselor in a court of law).
Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Scripture warns us not to get our advice, or counsel, from those who do not have a personal relationship with God or Jesus, who is the source of truth and righteousness. The kind of advice or counsel that comes from the ungodly has its source in worldly carnal and even evil wisdom; not godly or heavenly wisdom.
James 3:15 & 17 – This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. …. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The result of ungodly counsel or wisdom will ultimately lead to disaster, one way or another. Man’s carnal wisdom and counsel may seem right at the moment but in the end it will result in great harm.
Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
This fact is so important that it is listed twice in scripture:
Proverbs 16:25 – There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Consider what a lawyer/counselor does in a criminal court; they defend a criminal in order to avoid prosecution for their crime. In a case where a person did not commit the crime, the counsel is seeking the truth. But in most cases where the crime was committed, the lawyer/counselor is denying the truth and trying to hide it in order to avoid prosecution; which denies justice. Carnal man will always make excuses for sinful, even criminal behavior.
In Psalm 1:1 we are also told not to associate with sinners, those who practice ungodly and immoral behavior. Such an environment with those who practice sin is one that will be adopted by those who associate with them, even if there was no intent to do so. For example, this is very evident of those who are drawn to associate with or join membership in youthful gangs. Generally, their gang initiation consists of committing a serious crime.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Next we are told not to identify with those that are scornful. Those that are scornful are those that mock and have contempt for what is true, legitimate, lawful, proper and righteous.
Those that are ungodly, sinners and scornful even applies to false teachers, preachers and prophets. Those who some people look up to for their guidance and religious instruction. However, if such leadership does not have a real relationship with God through Jesus Christ, their counsel will be worthless, even destructive. Jesus instructed us to recognize them by their fruit – the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, which is their character and nature.
Matthew 7:15-16 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Jesus goes on to tell us more about these false preachers, teachers and prophets:
Matthew 7:21-23 – Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Note that Jesus said that there would be many that fall into this category that work iniquity, which is sin, rebellion, or doing their own thing. Such false ministers can give ungodly counsel.
Matthew 24:4-5 – And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ (anointed); and shall deceive many.
This deception also applies to those from whom people seek professional counseling for marital, mental or emotional problems. For example, I have heard professional marriage counselors say that there is no one single cause for divorce. This is absolutely wrong; there absolutely is one cause for marital problems and divorce. That one cause is SELFISHNESS: Selfishness on the part of one, or even both parties in a marriage, can destroy the relationship! Selfishness is the refusal of one or both parties to merge as one entity being knit together as husband and wife.
Genesis 2:24 – Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Selfishness is self-love, preferring self over their spouse.
Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Colossians 3:18-19 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
(Note: the submission of the wife to the husband cannot be imposed or demanded, but is earned because of his love for her; she submits to love.)
Titus 2:4 – that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Any counsel that denies these scriptural facts is going to be worthless and comes from a carnal source. Carnal sources are the works of the flesh which are ungodly. You don’t want your counsel coming from such ungodly sources because it is definitely not of the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Fruit of the Spirit is not only to be seen in those who minister to us, but it is also to be seen in every born-again believer. When this Fruit is present in one’s life, it helps us to override the selfish carnal nature of the flesh.
Galatians 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Note that this Fruit begins with LOVE: it then continues with the character and nature of God, and Jesus Christ, that is given to us to live a godly Christ centered life! Those who have this Fruit of the Spirit are then able to give GODLY COUNSEL to others!
Now consider the rest of Psalm 1 for the blessing of those who are godly and righteous compared to those who are the ungodly.
Psalm 1:2-6 – But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
SELAH – Think on these things!
