When Wrong Advice Is Heeded

Bill Brinkworth

The Bible repeatedly warns believers to be careful of the company they keep. The wrong influences often point a Christian in the wrong direction and quite often hurt a Christian’s testimony and closeness with the Lord. What we learn, or are told, by the wrong pressures can direct us into making wrong decisions that we may regret.

Here are some of the many biblical instances where a child of God was negatively affected by choosing the wrong associates and listening to their counsel:

Adam did what his wife told him to do, rather than obey God’s commandment, and it cost him and every person since, death and the heartaches of sin (Gen. 3).
Aaron succumbed to the pressure from the people around him, and made an idol. Because of that sin, many people died (Exodus 12).
Aaron and Miriam talked together against God’s man, Moses. God punished Miriam with leprosy (Numbers 12).
Ten spies did not have their faith in God, as did Joshua and Caleb, and thus aroused fear among their people (Numbers 14).
Many times the children of Israel suffered the wrath of God because they listened to the murmuring and complaining of the other people and jointly rebelled against God and His leader.
Most likely from the influence of living in the licentious cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s daughters were not uncomfortable with incest, and committed it with their father (Gen. 19:30-36).
Dinah visited worldly girls and a terrible thing happened to her (Gen. 34:1-2).
Samson picked the wrong girlfriend and ended up losing his strength, eyesight, and life (Judges 16).
Saul lost his position as king when he chose to do as the people wanted, rather than to obey the Lord’s commandments to destroy the Amalekites and their belongings (I Samuel 15).
Amnon took the bad advice of his friend, Jonadab, committed sin, and ultimately lost his life because of it (II Samuel 13).
Solomon’s marriages to heathen wives turned his heart away from the Lord (I Kings 11:4).
King Rehoboam heeded the wrong advice and reaped a rebellion of his people (I Kings 12).
Simon Peter’s exposure to those that were not believers pressured him into denying the Lord three times (John 18).
Lying, along with her husband, Ananias, also cost Sapphira her life (Acts 5).

Too many take the wrong advice from newspaper advice columns, TV personalities, social services, psychologists, and many other sources that are not offering good, godly advice. Without question, they heed the advice given and never consider what the Lord would have them do. Most often that advice turns out to do more harm than good.

“Thus saith the Lord” about any matter should be the first concern when discerning what to do in any situation. God has successfully raised trillions of children. Seek His advice from His Word, the Bible, and seek His direction by prayer. God’s advice is never wrong!

“Maybe you should take the advice of people that love you and are concerned for your well-being; when they warn you to stay away from a person or group of people!”

This lesson was featured in The Bible View #394.