We once had a friend named Richard who was a handyman who fixed small motors and engines. He had a faithful dog that kept him company everyday in his shop. This dog followed Richard around like a shadow, jumped to greet him, gave him affection, and acted like she thought he was the best man in the world. One day while observing all this, I complimented the dog. Richard smiled and said, “You know, she’s the same every day, and after all these years, she’s never complained once.”

It’s a shame more people don’t have the same kind of disposition that Richard’s dog had: a good attitude. But it is possible. Remember God’s prophet Daniel? When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem, Daniel, along with others, was taken captive to Babylon. In this process, he was forcibly stripped of his freedom, homeland, name, and, ultimately his manhood (Daniel 1). He was placed in the charge of “the prince of the eunuchs” (1:7), which meant he was castrated to make him a safer subject in proximity to the king and his realm. Daniel could have responded to all these brutal events with anger and resentment, but he didn’t. The queen described Daniel as one who had “an excellent spirit” (5:12). It was because of this quality that Daniel had been elevated to “master” of the king’s magicians and astrologers. As the king observed Daniel, he elevated him further for his good attitude. Daniel 6:3 states, “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

A famous preacher once commented that he believed attitude was more important than facts, education, money, circumstances, failure, or skill. It will make you or break you.1 Proverbs 17:27 says it this way: “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” Like Daniel, each of us can make a conscious choice to have a good spirit, or attitude, no matter what our circumstances. We can choose not to complain, be bitter, resentful, or negative. We can choose to exalt our Savior with not just a good attitude but with “an excellent spirit.” Is this going to describe you today?

God’s Word likewise seeks to convince us of the same principle. When writing to his son about sinners, Solomon says, “My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path” (Proverbs 1:15). Then, he tells him why this is so important in Proverbs 22:24-25, “Make no friendship with an angry man…lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” Further reinforcing this truth, Solomon adds, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). We might try to convince ourselves that we won’t be ill affected by time spent with unwise, or ungodly, people. However, God’s Word is consistent and clear about this principle. The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications [companionship, association together, or company] corrupt good manners.” Before long we will begin to think, talk, and act just like the people with whom we spend our time. You can count on it.

Solomon may have learned to make wise choices in companions from his father, David. His testimony was, “I have not sat with vain persons… with dissemblers…and will not sit with the wicked” (Psalm 26:4-5). David had established a standard by which he chose his friends: “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts” (Psalm 119:63).

Do you have the right kind of friends, truly godly ones? Allow the Lord to influence you through His Word to avoid ungodly old friends and begin making friends, and spending time, with those who are godly. The decision you make on this issue will have far-reaching spiritual affects for the rest of your life.

When I was ten years old and my oldest sister, Peggy, was nineteen, I trapped her in her bedroom. She had just gussied up her hair when I appeared with an ice-cold glass of water and threatened to throw it on her. While we both laughed at the prank, she begged me not to throw it on her. I made her get down on her hands and knees, give me compliments, and beg for mercy. After several minutes, I turned as if to leave and show her mercy, then I whirled back around and let her have it. She took it good-naturedly. Through laughter, she said: “You think you’re smart, don’t you, you little rat?”

In an article entitled: Average Americans Think They’re Smarter Than the Average American, author Marina Koren says, “Fifty-five percent of Americans think that they are smarter than the average American, according to a new survey by YouGov, a research organization that uses online polling.” How about you? Do you think you are smart? God’s standard for a smart Christian is found in Proverbs 11:30: “…he that winneth souls is wise.” There is more than one proper motive for intentionally seeking to lead others to eternal salvation. It could be because we realize doing so is “your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2). After all, the Savior endured much to redeem us from sin. It is only reasonable to serve Him in this way. We should also realize this is God’s primary mission in life for every believer. Second Corinthians 5:18-20 informs us all believers are to serve as “ambassadors for Christ” because He gave all of us “the ministry of reconciliation.” This means we are all to see ourselves as “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Seeking to lead others to Christ is NOT just for a select few who have some sort of special gift. Compassion for the fate of an eternally lost soul should also motivate us. Jude 23 puts it this way: “…others save with fear, pulling them [with Scripture] out of the fire.…” It is also proper to be motivated by eternal reward. Daniel 12:3 says, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”

If we are truly smart, we’ll arm ourselves today with gospel tracts and look for an opportunity to share the plan of salvation with a lost soul.

In his book, The Untold Secret That Creates Wealth, author John Beehner recounts an experience with a successful Christian entrepreneur by the name of John Smith. By the age of 28, Mr. Smith had built a chain of 20 athletic stores. At one time each store was averaging 2 million in sales per year. Then the marketplace began to change with the emergence of Walmart and Kmart. Despite the competition and slumping sales, Mr. Smith pressed forward with expansion. Some advised him to sell while he could make a profit. After things worsened still, he had the opportunity to sell the remaining stores for more than 2 million dollars, but John refused. Ultimately, Mr. Smith was forced to close down completely, while still owing nearly 1 million dollars. If he had listened to wise counsel, he would have been able to remain financially secure.

Three times in the book of Proverbs, God instructs us about the wisdom and necessity of listening to wise counsel from others. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” It is a sign of wisdom, humility, maturity, and good sense to listen to and heed good counsel. It only proves us to be arrogant, or a fool, when we refuse. Proverbs 11:14 tells us, “Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” There is a good reason why presidents and prime ministers have a cabinet and advisers to guide them when making important decisions. Likewise, in wisdom, God ordained that churches be run by a multitude of spiritually capable elders. In both instances, this practice minimizes wrong decisions and provides greater safety for the people they serve. In Proverbs 19:20, the Lord’s instructions to us are, “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” In other words, we are implored to listen carefully to, and learn from, those with wise counsel.

Are you facing an important decision? We encourage you to seek out wise counsel. Wise counsel is not a friend who will only tell you what you want to hear. Wise counsel will tell you what God wants you to hear, and that means its advice will be consistent with biblical principles. When that’s the counsel you hear, listen. Doing so will avoid problems, make life easier, and demonstrate godly wisdom.

The website The Wartburg Watch 2014, posts a heartrending article entitled, “When Pastor’s Breach Trust: My Testimony of Betrayal.” The author gives her testimony about pouring her heart out to a new pastor as she sought refuge in his church. Some time later, she shared her concern when a convicted pedophile was attending unsupervised. The pastor responded with coldness and curt greetings. Then he contacted her former pastor, divulged confidential information, and later shared the same with others in the church. The result was devastating hurt. We live in an age when slander, gossip, and false accusations are frequent in tabloids. People in the media seem to think they can act this way without consequence. Unfortunately, believers too often mirror this kind of conduct today.

The Bible is not silent on this issue. Proverbs 20:19 describes those who don’t keep confidentialities: “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets….” This truth is emphasized by repetition. Proverbs 11:13 explains, “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” It has become commonplace, even in Christian circles and by leaders in ministry, to immediately spread whatever dirt they hear. They often dig for information with probing questions. Proverbs 16:27 describes the character of those who practice this sin: “An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” It is as simple as that. It is ungodly and sinful to betray confidences, spread rumors or lies, or make inquiries so one can gossip. The consequences of this action are found in the next verse: “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends” (16:28). Proverbs 18:8 says: “The words of a talebearer are as wounds…” Many have lost friends, and many stop attending churches when talebearers weave their evil web. Once such intentional hurts are inflicted, the relationships are irreparable.

God’s solution to this problem is in Proverbs 26:20: “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” Have you been guilty of being a talebearer? If so, honor the Lord by confessing this to your victim. This will deter you from repeating this sin. When others come to you with tales about someone else, tell them you want both of you to immediately call this person to inform them about a rumor being spread at their expense. This will be a deterrent to others. Let’s stop the cycle of tale bearing.