How do I give good advice to others?
Philippians 4:8Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
When giving advice, it’s critical to make sure our hearts are in the right place. We should offer the best possible advice for the situation, not advice that might improve our own situations. Instead, we should pray about what we need to say, and always keep others’ best interests in mind.
Proverbs 18:2Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
Proverbs 18:13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
Ecclesiastes 5:2Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
James 1:19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Often, listening long and speaking briefly is more helpful than an overblown lecture. Words are like medicine; they should be measured with care. An overdose may do more harm than good.
1 Samuel 3:19As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.
Daniel 2:30“It is not because I [Daniel] am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.”
Some people always seem to have good advice because they have a good adviser. People listened to Samuel and Daniel because their words came from the Lord God himself.
Psalm 37:30-31The godly offer good counsel; they teach right from wrong. They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from his path.
Colossians 3:16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
When we know God’s Word, we can refer to it as we provide advice. Then our words will be consistently wise and helpful.
Proverbs 25:11Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
Hindsight is often too late. The good advice we offer needs to be timely. The same advice given too early or too late may not be appropriate.
Proverbs 27:5-6An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Proverbs 28:23In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery.
If we truly care about someone, our advice should be honest. Telling people what they want to hear may make them pleased with us in the short-term, but it may harm them in the long run.
Proverbs 15:33Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.
Luke 14:11“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 22:26“But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.”
Romans 12:3Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
When someone asks us for advice, we should respond with humility. Humility does not mean pretending we lack experience or wisdom—it simply means having an accurate view of our limitations. When we are humble, we genuinely care more about serving others than about winning their admiration or approval.
Job 5:17“Consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.”
Proverbs 18:13Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.
Although Eliphaz was correct (see Hebrews 12:6), his advice did not apply to Job’s situation. We must make sure we have all the facts and thoroughly understand a person’s situation before giving advice.
Numbers 13:33-14:4“We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that’s what we looked like to them!” . . . Then all the people began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of complaint against Moses and Aaron. “We wish we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they wailed. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and little ones will be carried off as slaves! Let’s get out of here and return to Egypt!” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt!”
The negative opinion of ten men caused a great rebellion among the Israelites. Because it is human nature to accept opinion as fact, we must be especially careful when voicing negative opinions. What we say may heavily influence the actions of those who are trusting us to give sound advice.
