ESTHER 5:14 : Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty
cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily
with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.
America’s first “official” advice giver was a woman whose pen name was Dorothy Dix. Her first
column appeared July 11, 1896, in the New Orleans Picayune.
The column ran for 55 years. By the time of her death in 1951, her column was carried by nearly 300
papers. She was popularly known as the “Mother Confessor to Millions.”
Miss Dix has been followed by a hoard of others. We have Miss Manners, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Dear
Abby, her twin sister, Ann Landers, and many more.
In fact, most people relish the opportunity to give advice either officially or unofficially. The challenge
on our part is to know whether the advice is good or bad.
Like you and me, Haman also had his advice givers. His wife, Zeresh, and his friends in the city of
Shushan were more than happy to play to Haman’s pride and prejudices. But the advice they gave
ultimately led to his destruction.
As Christians, our best advisor is the Word of God. God never sugarcoats His commandments to
spare our feelings. We can always trust Him to tell us what is right, even if we don’t want to hear it.
Wisdom dictates that we turn to others for counsel. The Bible says, “Listen to counsel and receive
instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days” (Prov,19:20). It also warns, “There are many
plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’S counsel that will stand.”
There are many places and many people from whom you can get advice, but make sure the advice
you’re being given is consistent with God’s counsel.
FREE ADVICE IS SOMETIMES THE MOST COSTLY KIND.