Opinions are like ears . Everybody has them. Unfortunately many people are unaware on how
to utilize their personal opinion for good and not evil. Giving your opinion in the proper way can be
a welcomed insight to individuals who need it.
However, using your opinion in an abrasive, negative manner can alienate
you as well as people from you. Advice
is only as good as the person giving it! Meaning before we can give advice, we
should make sure we take our own advice into account. Have you ever looked closely at the person
who is always freely giving you their opinion on an issue in your life? Usually their situation is in more disarray
than yours. Although somehow, they manage
to have the answer to everything.
My favorite story of opinions gone wrong is seen in the book
of Job in the Bible. After Job lost
everything in his life including his family, livestock, houses and health, his
three friends felt it was their duty to consult with Job. Their good intentions to mourn with him
quickly turned into a free for all of unwarranted advice. When I was a child I remember adults saying a
phrase such as “The road to destruction is paved with good intentions!” One thing I found very intriguing were Job’s
friends staying with him for seven days and nights without saying a word. It was the custom in those days not to speak
until the person who was mourning spoke first.
However, their advice was an array of an opinionated
disaster when given. They said such
things as Job must have done something wrong to be in such a predicament. They also went on to say Job deserved worse
than what he was given! WOW!!! So I guess we all have people in our lives
that will kick us when we are down!
However, thank God
for a friend like Elihu! Elihu was the
fourth friend and a young man full of wisdom and knowledge. The reason he was filled with wisdom and
knowledge is simply due to the fact he held his tongue. He paid attention to what they were saying.
Elihu also respected his elders and understood what God was doing. He had better insight than Job and his
friends because sometimes it is truly in the quietness of the conversation that
we hear God clearly! Elihu holding his
tongue and listening gave Job a better insight.
Elihu already had a sense of what God was doing simply due to listening
first and speaking last. The story of
Job ends by Job being totally restored and given more than what he had the
first time.
As for myself, I only
give advice pertaining to the things I’ve been through. Likewise, in these times I only choose to take advice
from non-angry and non-bitter individuals who use factually based information
while giving me their opinion to make my most informed decisions. Based
on the story of Job, I know that only 1
out of 5 people know exactly what they
are talking about when it comes to giving personal opinions.
Please continue to encourage each other instead of
discouraging each other while utilizing our God-given wisdom so we ourselves
much like Job will be blessed twice over beyond our wildest dreams!
Peace and Blessings until next time.
With Love,
Danica
