Ignoring Advice from Grandad

 

Recently I ordered several teen related books to add to my library.  As they arrived, I looked through the books and checked for any major problems.  As I was thumbing through the book Boys to Men: A Christian-Teen Survival Guide, written by members of the church like Kyle Butt and several others, I noticed a note tucked inside the front cover.  The note read, “Jack.  This book will be a very good guide for your life.  I hope you will use it for that purpose.  Love, Grandad.”

After I read this touching note, I began taking notice of the book’s condition.  The front cover was in great shape except for a little bit of wear on the corners.  The binding was in perfect condition and didn’t look like it had been broken in.  Every page was crisp and didn’t have a single mark on them.  While it’s possible Jack was a very careful reader, the book didn’t show any signs of ever being read.  Not to mention, this book is now located in my office instead of the teen boy’s room.  All indications point to Jack never reading this book or heeding his Grandad’s advice.

Whoever this grandad is, I give him a standing ovation for trying to keep his grandchildren in a right relationship with the Lord.  The book he gave his grandson is a good book filled with sound spiritual advice.  I don’t know what Jack’s spiritual condition is now, but I certainly hope he made better decisions for his future.  The evidence seems to suggest that Jack ignored good spiritual advice from his grandad.

What about us?  How do we respond to sound spiritual advice?  Typically, people don’t like their flaws pointed out.  We get set in our ways.  Sometimes it is very hard to listen to advice when it calls for us to change.  However, according to Scripture, we would be very wise to listen to such advice.  Notice the following Scriptures:

• Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.”
• Proverbs 12:15 – “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”
• Proverbs 6:20-23 – “My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck.  When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you.  For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life.”

While not all advice is good advice, one can never go wrong when giving sound spiritual advice from Scripture.  We need more people who are willing to step out and invest in others’ relationships with the Lord through sound spiritual advice.  But more than anything, we need to be the kind of people who are willing to use and accept this good advice from others.