An Abundance of Wise Counselors

The book of Proverbs teaches us about wisdom, applying it to a variety of situations in the Christian life. In this article, we will think specifically about the Holy Spirit’s declaration that “in an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Prov. 11:14).

Proverbs 11:14 comes in a context of verses describing the impact that wisdom has on the life of the community. Verses 10–11 remind us that the righteous and upright are always a blessing to the community. Verses 12–13 teach us that sometimes even our silence benefits those around us. We are instructed that we must not belittle our neighbors or betray their confidences. Clearly, Christians must remain silent at times to do good to our neighbors.

But then in verse 14, we are reminded that sometimes we need to speak for our neighbors’ good. This verse begins by describing a community crisis: “Where there is no guidance, a people falls.” The Hebrew word for “guidance” probably has its origin in a term for pulling a rope to steer a ship. If you read accounts of old naval battles, sometimes you read about a ship’s sailing ropes being shot away. If a ship lost the ropes that controlled the sails or the ropes that attached the wheel to the rudder, the ship was left without the ability to steer. When that happened, the ship would be dead in the water. Such a ship was powerless against the attacks of enemies and the movements of the sea. The beginning of Proverbs 11:14 describes a people facing this kind of danger. They are unable to guide themselves, and without guidance, a fall will inevitably follow.

This passage not only gives a warning but also provides hope. Verse 14 goes on to tell us that guidance can be found to lead to safety. The word that we translate as “safety” has the sense of “deliverance” or “helping those who are in trouble.” Therefore, God’s Word is telling us that while the lack of guidance will certainly lead to a fall, people can find a path that leads to deliverance. The way to find safety is in “an abundance of counselors.”

Verse 14 presents us with the picture of many wise counselors acting in concert with one another to come up with the best plan for help in the current crisis. The text implies that these counselors have spoken with one another and then speak to the people to give them the guidance they need to find safety. Wise counselors, therefore, are not just those who speak from their own wisdom but those who benefit from listening to the wise counsel of one another. The collaboration of many wise counselors guides the community to build it up and to save it from trouble.

To be wise counselors together, we must listen to one another. In James 1:19, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we must be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” When we work with others, we will not always agree with the solutions that are proposed. But instead of being quick with our rebuttals to the ideas of others, we need to listen to and seriously consider them. Wise people will be persuaded by counsel that is better than their own (see Prov. 18:13, 15, 17). Such people show that they have “the wisdom from above,” which “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). When we collaborate with others to seek wise solutions, we must listen to and evaluate their counsel according to heaven’s standard of wisdom.

God’s Word also exhorts us to work together in “the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13). “Meekness” is defined as “a gentleness of attitude and behavior.” Meekness is the opposite of harshness. It should make sense to us that no true collaboration can happen if people interact with one another in a spirit of harshness. No good solutions will develop in such an environment. Rather, a spirit of gentleness toward one another will help us to reach the best solutions. If I know that my ideas will be received gently by those who are open to what I have to say, it will encourage my participation and that of others. Where you find such wise counselors willing to work with one another in meekness to find the best solutions, you will find safety. The more of these counselors you can gather, the better the wisdom you will receive.

So when we face difficult decisions, whether individually or as a Christian community, these are the kinds of counselors we ought to seek: people who will listen to us and speak with us in wisdom for our good. We do not simply want a group of sycophantic yes-men, willing to confirm whatever we already think. Nor do we want people who are so convinced of their own opinions that they can never really listen to anyone else. We want to seek the advice of those who have the proper attitude of meekness and who operate according to the wisdom that is from above. They are those with whom we can collaborate. They will help guide us safely through the challenges of this world. We should seek to cultivate relationships with as many such wise counselors as possible.

Finally, we must begin with the recognition that Jesus Christ is a Wonderful Counselor as well (Isa. 9:6). He is with us and indwells us by His Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of counsel and might (11:2). And both Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been sent to us by our Father, who is the cause, origin, and source of all wisdom. As we seek wise counselors around us, let us not forget to seek God’s face in prayer, for He has promised to give wisdom to those who seek it (James 1:5; see Prov. 2:6; 8:17).