The Medicine Cabinet: Get Help — Wednesday
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (ESV)
Back in the summer of 2019, a group of retired friends made national news. The group, who met every Saturday morning at a Salt Lake City deli, were growing tired of the same conversation each week. So, as a joke, they set up a card table at the nearby farmer’s market and told people they were dispensing free advice. They even made a large banner: “Old Coots Giving Advice—It’s Probably Bad Advice, But It’s Free.”
To their surprise, people started showing up and sharing their problems. The Old Coots quickly became one of the most popular booths at the market. Today, they address everything—from landscaping issues to life's greatest mysteries.
Someone wise once said, “He who knows not and knows that he knows not is a wise man, but he who knows not—and knows not that he knows not—is a fool.”
You might need to read that again, but whoever said that was absolutely right.
It’s a good thing to know you don’t have all the answers. The Bible would call that wisdom.
Nobody is so smart, so savvy, so discerning to never need help.
The Bible is clear: We are designed to receive truth spoken in love. Call it counsel, call it guidance, call it advice—scripture makes it clear that we’re supposed to ask for it.
Relying entirely on yourself and never asking for help is like wasting a wealth of knowledge that is available to you. You have a community around you that has likely been down that road before, has perspective that would benefit you, and, most importantly, wants to give you loving advice.
As today’s verse puts it clearly, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Wednesday’s Reflection
Do you ever ask for advice? If not, you should. This isn’t just a practical issue, but a spiritual one. Talk with God today about why you may be hesitant to ask others for advice. What is going on at a heart level?
