“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”
The Psalmist David tells us we need to exclude three things that hinder happiness.
First, keep from walking in the counsel of the ungodly. I prefer the KJV translation “ungodly” which broadens the definition of only a “wicked” or “evil” person. Wicked people are certainly to be shunned. However, the ungodly are not just evil people but rather people without God. People might to evil things, but wicked people are what is behind evil. Most people give advice and talk in ways that are ungodly. Most folks live without including God at all.
We are not talking about going to a mechanic who doesn’t know the Lord. He might give great advice on how to fix my car. An unsaved doctor might know a lot about fixing a broken leg. When the Bible talks about walking in ungodly counsel it refers to going by a different worldview or way of looking at life. There are two different worlds that surround us. There are two different kingdoms. To walk in one is to turn your back on the other. To attempt to walk in both leads to destruction from within. How many Christians make decisions without seeking God’s will? How many personal goals do you have for which you have not even thought of God’s direction? People will not be blessed if they do not consider the One who brings real happiness.
Our society exists without any concern or even awareness of God. The Park Service of the Grand Canyon returned three bronze plaques of Psalms to the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, who donated them over forty years ago to recognize the awesomeness of God. These plaques have inspired many awe-struck beholders to admire and acknowledge the Creator of this majestic landscape. It is another example of state government trying to deny the existence of God. In order not to offend ungodly people, increasingly, our society functions as if God has no place outside of church.
The more we look to man-made solutions alone to face the problems of the world, unhappiness results. People have trusted man-centered politics to give them a better world. Scientists can claim insight in how the world was created without any appreciation of a creator. Secular education has not liberated us from crime, pollution, poverty, racism, and war. Relativism is the philosophy that says you do what you want and I’ll do what I want and we’ll respect each other’s truth. That is ungodly counsel.
It is the world’s wisdom that is controlled by Satan and our society buys it hook line and sinker. Friends the Bible says it will lead to unhappiness.
Application: Godly counsel seeks to be founded on the Word of God. Let that be your guide in all matters of life.
Prayer: Word of God, speak . Speak to me O Lord. I trust in Your Word, for in it are the words of life.
