Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Do you know the advice about walking alone in a dark alley? It’s easy. Don’t do it. I can’t say I’ve ever walked alone down a dark alley. But I have walked alone without a flashlight down a dark trail in the woods. The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention and saluted. I scanned every direction for the eyes of wild animals, but only saw moonlight and shadow. In retrospect, my fear was unfounded.

But dark alleys are another thing. Danger is far more likely in them than in the woods. We know this and avoid dark alleys to enhance our physical safety.

We should also be concerned about protecting our morals and ethics. The psalmist puts it this way in Psalms 1:1, “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 wicked, sinners and mockers are all unsavory characters. Oh sure, we may laugh along with the mockers when they heap scorn on something or someone good. But they are just as dangerous as the wicked who advise us to do wrong.

So, if you want to be blessed today, don’t take advice from the ungodly, hang out with those who sin or even gather with mockers. If you wouldn’t walk alone down a dark alley, why would you hang with the wrong crowd?

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00 — 3.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

Have you ever asked for advice? I’m sure you have. It seems that at one time or another we all find ourselves seeking wisdom from someone else. Often the advice is just what we needed. But sometimes we get bad advice. And bad advice leads to painful life lessons. Have you ever received really bad advice? How about this: a Twitter user’s no-nonsense grandfather gave this advice about the wilderness: “If you see a bear and don’t have time to run away, hug it. Bears cannot scratch their stomachs.”* I assume the person never used the advice, since they tweeted the story!

Here’s another. chrisdrewdavis on reddit.com says, “When I was a Boy Scout, we went camping. My Scout leader said to just use the leaves to wipe. It was poison ivy.”*

Then there’s a tweet by Monica Lewinsky on the worst advice she received, “An internship at the White House will be amazing on your résumé.”*

Wouldn’t you like to know whether a source of advice is good or not? Psalms 1:1-2 contrasts sources of bad advice with the source of truth. It says, “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. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (NIV)

Remember, God’s word provides wisdom and the truth. Read it!

*Andy Simmons, “22 Hilariously Bad Pieces of Advice You Shouldn’t Follow,” Reader’s Digest, April 1, 2022, https://www.rd.com/article/hilariously-bad-advice/

How to leave a review: https://www.sparkingfaith.com/rate-and-review/

Visit Elmer Fuller’s author website at: https://www.elmerfuller.com/

Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.