Wise Counsel, Many Hands

Listening to Good Advice

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Moses was the leader of all Israel. He had talked with God at the burning bush. Yet when Jethro gave him advice, Moses listened. “So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said” (Exodus 18:24).

Everyone needs advice. Kings, teachers, parents and kids all need help seeing things clearly. Being smart does not mean we never need advice.

Fools and wise people. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15). A fool thinks he is always right. A wise person listens.

Safety in counsel. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Good advice from several wise people protects us from mistakes.

Better plans. “Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established” (Proverbs 15:22). Awry means going wrong.

Listen while you are young. “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days” (Proverbs 19:20). Listening now helps us become wise later.

Who gives good advice? Look for people who love God, tell the truth and care about you, like Jethro cared about Moses. Parents, grandparents, pastors and teachers are often good counselors.

Test advice by God's Word. Jethro said, “If you do this thing, and God so commands you” (Exodus 18:23). Good advice always agrees with what God says.

Ask God for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

The best Counselor. Isaiah said that Jesus would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus always gives perfect advice in His Word.

Listening at home. When a parent says, “Be careful,” or “Try it this way,” they are giving counsel. Listening and saying thank you instead of arguing is a way of being wise like Moses.

Being a good counselor. Jethro cared about Moses and spoke honestly. You can be a good friend by giving kind, true advice too. Good advice is never mean; it comes from love.

Humble hearts listen. It takes humility to say, “You are right. I need to change.” Moses showed that kind of humility.

What to do. This week, ask a wise adult for advice about something you are facing, and thank them for helping you.

Exodus 18 shows a great leader receiving correction from an unexpected source: a Midianite priest. Moses' response is a model of teachable leadership.

The fool and the wise. Proverbs 12:15 contrasts the person who is “right in his own eyes” with the one who “heeds counsel.” The Hebrew word for heeding is the same root used in Exodus 18:24: Moses listened.

Many counselors. Proverbs 11:14 and 15:22 praise a “multitude of counselors.” Wisdom is often communal. Decisions tested by several godly voices are less likely to go astray.

Instruction over time. Proverbs 19:20 links listening now with wisdom “in your latter days.” Teachability is an investment in the future.

Discernment. Not all advice is good. Jethro's counsel was grounded in concern for Moses and the people and offered in submission to God (Exodus 18:23). Believers test counsel by Scripture and by the character of the counselor.

The source of wisdom. James 1:5 invites believers to ask God for wisdom, promising that He gives “liberally and without reproach.” Human counsel is a gift; divine wisdom is the source.

Wonderful Counselor. Isaiah 9:6 names the coming King “Wonderful, Counselor.” Christians see in Jesus the perfect counselor, whose words are life and whose Spirit guides His people into truth.

Humility in leaders. Moses' readiness to change his method shows that spiritual authority does not exempt anyone from correction. The best leaders remain learners.

Correction as kindness. Jethro's words, “The thing that you do is not good,” were blunt but loving. Scripture treats faithful correction as a gift. A friend who tells the truth is more valuable than one who only flatters.

Counsel in community. Christian maturity is rarely solitary. Small groups, mentors and church leaders provide the “multitude of counselors” Proverbs commends. Isolation leaves believers vulnerable to blind spots.

Timing and tone. Jethro waited until he had watched a full day before he spoke, and he framed his counsel with a blessing: “God will be with you.” Wise counsel considers not only what to say, but when and how to say it.

Outsiders with insight. God sometimes uses unexpected people to give needed perspective. Jethro saw what Moses had stopped noticing.

Prayer and counsel. Seeking human advice is not a substitute for prayer. Moses was to keep bringing the people's difficulties to God (Exodus 18:19). Counsel and prayer work together.

Application. Identify one decision you are facing and seek counsel from two mature believers, then compare their advice with Scripture.

Many Members, One Body

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Jethro told Moses to choose helpers. Soon there were leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Many hands shared the work. The New Testament says God's family still works that way.

Too much for one. Jethro said, “This thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself” (Exodus 18:18). God never meant for one person to do everything.

Sharing the burden. The helpers would “bear the burden with you” (Exodus 18:22). The Bible says, “Bear one another's burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

One body. Paul wrote, “For as the body is one and has many members… so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Members are parts, like hands, feet and eyes.

You are part of it. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). If you trust Jesus, you have a place in His body.

Different gifts. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6). Some people teach, some help, some encourage, some give.

Use your gift. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another” (1 Peter 4:10). God gives gifts so we can serve others.

Leaders help everyone serve. God gave pastors and teachers “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12). Leaders help everyone do their part.

Helpers in the church. When the apostles had too much work, they chose seven men “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” to help (Acts 6:3). It was just like Moses' helpers.

Character matters. Jethro said the helpers had to fear God, tell the truth and hate greed (Exodus 18:21). God cares about who we are, not just what we can do.

Different, not better. An eye is not better than a hand, and a teacher is not better than a helper who sets up chairs. Every gift comes from God, so no one should brag and no one should feel useless.

Kids have gifts too. You do not have to be a grown-up to serve. You can pray, greet visitors, help clean up, sing, share or be kind to someone who is left out.

No job too small. Leaders over tens mattered as much as leaders over thousands. In God's family, every job is important.

What to do. Ask a parent or teacher what gifts they see in you, and find one way to use that gift at church or at home this week.

Jethro's plan of shared leadership points ahead to the New Testament's picture of the church as a body with many members.

Moses' confession. Later Moses said, “I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me” (Numbers 11:14). Deuteronomy 1:9-13 recalls the appointment of leaders: “Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men.”

The body image. 1 Corinthians 12:12 compares the church to a body: one body, many members, “so also is Christ.” Unity does not mean sameness; it means many parts serving one life.

Individual membership. “You are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Each believer has a real place and a real function.

Grace-gifts. Romans 12:4-6 grounds differing functions in “the grace that is given to us.” Gifts are not earned; they are given to be used.

Stewardship. 1 Peter 4:10 calls believers “good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” A steward manages what belongs to another. Our gifts belong to God and are meant for others.

Equipping. Ephesians 4:11-12 says Christ gave leaders “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.” Like Jethro's plan, the goal is not that leaders do everything, but that the whole body serves.

Acts 6. When the church grew, the apostles appointed seven men to serve tables so that they could give themselves “to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” It is the same wisdom God gave Moses through Jethro in Exodus 18:19-22.

Qualifications. Both Exodus 18:21 and Acts 6:3 emphasize character: fear of God, truthfulness, integrity, being “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.”

Weaker members. Paul insists that the members “which seem to be weaker are necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:22). Just as leaders of tens mattered in Jethro's plan, the less visible roles in the church are indispensable.

Gifts and humility. Romans 12:3 warns believers not to think of themselves more highly than they ought. Recognizing that gifts are given removes both pride and envy, freeing each member to serve gladly.

Burden-bearing. Jethro's phrase, “they will bear the burden with you,” points ahead to Galatians 6:2. Shared ministry is not merely efficient; it is an expression of love that fulfills “the law of Christ.”

Leaders who multiply. Jethro's plan did not make Moses less important; it made his ministry last. Good leaders in the church raise up others, so that the work continues and more people grow.

Application. Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and list the ways different members need each other. Then ask how you are serving the body.

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Read each section and answer the questions correctly.