The Counsel of the Ungodly

Monday, 18th June 2007

I happen to be looking at the list of best-selling non-fiction books over the weekend, and noticed that the majority of them relate to the wealth-accumulation.

With all due respect to their authors, these books cater to what people out there are seeking for, and have little, if any regard for God at all.

The King James Version of Psalm 1:1 tells us that "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."

It is interesting that the word being used here is "ungodly", rather than "wicked" in other versions like NIV and NASB.

Ungodly means "without or devoid of God". Worldly counsel or advice is that where God is not in the picture. Self-help and get-rich books may appear to be harmless or neutral, but at the end of the day, as believers, we have to realise that without God, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5) and unless the Lord builds the house, the workers labour in vain (Ps 127:1).

If we want to be like that blessed person, who is like a tree planted by the waters, then we should not rely on the counsel of the ungodly. The Word of God has the answer to all our questions. The Word of God has the solution to all our problems.

Instead of turning to the books found in the best-sellers list, let's turn to the best-selling book of all time -- the Bible. Josh 1:8 tells us that if we meditate on it, we will be prosperous and successful.