Life, like a journey, is shaped by choices; the daily decisions that determine whether we are walking in alignment with God’s will or drifting into dangerous territory. We arrived where we are today by turning to the right here and turning to the left there, and then taking a bend and making a U-turn.
All our decisions count. However, much more than we sometimes admit, our decisions are inspired or directed by the various shades of counsel we have followed, given to us by different types of people. If you carefully analyse your life, you will discover that most of your troubles are products of ungodly counsel.
The first psalm sets the tone for the entire book of Psalms, showing us a clear contrast between the righteous and the ungodly, between those who delight in God’s law and those who scorn it. The psalmist begins with a warning: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.”
You can pause now and ask yourself these questions: Whose counsel am I following? Is this counsel godly or ungodly?
Counsel is advice, direction, or instruction that influences our choices. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” This verse shows the importance of seeking counsel. However, the source and the quality of the counsel are of even greater importance. As Christians, we must do everything possible to avoid following ungodly counsel.
Identifying Ungodly Counsel
In the context of this piece, ungodly counsel is not just the advice that suggests that one should sin. It includes any advice, philosophy, or direction that contradicts God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It may not always sound evil at first. Sometimes it is subtle, coated in logic, convenience, or worldly wisdom. James 3:15 warns us: “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” Not every wise counsel is godly.
Ungodly counsel is dangerous because it often comes from familiar voices—friends, family, culture, or even popular influencers. Proverbs 14:12 reminds us, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Sometimes, the people you love and respect will advise you to take a path that seems right to them. Though they sincerely want to help you, their sincerity does not change the fact that, in the end, that way leads to death.
So, whenever someone is advising you, listen to the person with your spirit, not your head. Do not adopt a counsel until you have tested it and identified the spirit behind it. There has to be a witness in your spirit that the counsel is from God.
Ungodly counsel primarily comes from ungodly people; however, godly people can sometimes give ungodly counsel, unwittingly giving voice to an inspiration from the devil.
Identifying ungodly counsel is easy sometimes. But most times it requires spiritual discernment. It is easy when they come from people who actively live in sin and do not care about God. It is easy when the counsel suggests you should sin and do something that violates your conscience and goes against what the Bible teaches.
It becomes difficult to discern when the ungodly counsel comes for a godly brother or sister, your spouse, your pastor, whom you love and respect, a close friend or relative who truly loves you. From your estimation, these people love God and are looking out for your best interests. How can ungodly counsel come from such people?
Peter, who received the revelation of Jesus as the Christ, provided ungodly counsel aimed at stopping Jesus from fulfilling His purpose by going to the cross to die for humanity and rising from the dead. Jesus identified the source of the counsel as Satan and said “Get behind me, Satan,” while addressing Peter.
God commanded Abraham and said, “Walk before me and be perfect.” At that time, he was walking errantly in the counsel of his wife. That counsel produced Ishmael, an avoidable trouble. Sarah was godly, but that counsel, which came from an emotional consideration of their situation, was ungodly because it contradicted God’s promise of a son from Sarah’s womb.
Avoiding ungodly counsel
We are exposed to ungodly counsel, in this age more than in any other era. This is largely because of the ease of information dissemination.
Everywhere you turn, you see someone setting up a ring light, a camera, and a microphone, dishing out counsel on every aspect of human life.
Though we are inundated with the cacophony of counsel, here are ways to avoid being caught up in ungodly counsel.
– Don’t keep company with ungodly people: You are easily exposed to ungodly counsel when you keep company with ungodly people. You need to edit your relationships. You cannot succeed in avoiding ungodly counsel if your closest friends are ungodly in their speech and deeds. The Bible says that evil communication corrupts good manners.
– Delight in God’s Word: Form a habit of studying your Bible. You cannot outsource it to your pastor. The word of God is an antidote to ungodly counsel. When your heart is filled with God’s Word, it’s easier to say “no” to ungodly counsel. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” When we meditate on Scripture, our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2), and we gain discernment to test every counsel we receive. When you are grounded in the scriptures, you will be able to reject ungodly counsel in various areas of life. For instance, when pressured to cheat in business, remember Proverbs 11:1: “A false balance is abomination to the LORD.” When tempted to marry outside God’s will, recall 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” When you are advised to take revenge against someone who hurt you, answer with Romans 12:19: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
– Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be our Counsellor: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… he shall teach you all things” (John 14:26). Unlike the world’s counsel, the Spirit speaks truth and guides us into God’s will. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” As Christians, we must cultivate sensitivity to the Spirit’s voice through prayer, worship, and meditation on God’s Word. The Spirit may nudge you against a business deal that looks profitable but is rooted in fraud. He may warn you not to pursue a relationship that will lead you away from Christ. Isaiah 30:21 promises, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” That is godly counsel in action.
– Let your discernment be heightened: 1 John 4:1: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” Before acting on advice, weigh it against Scripture and the witness of the Spirit. Discernment is key. It is with discernment that we disarm the antics and operations of the devil. Discernment works with every part of your body. Don’t ignore the signal in some sensitive parts of your body. That might mean that discernment has kicked in. Don’t take anything for granted. Check it by the Spirit.
Avoiding ungodly counsel is not about rejecting people but rejecting any advice, influence, or lifestyle that opposes God’s Word. The counsel of the ungodly leads to shame and destruction, but the counsel of God—through His Word and Spirit—leads to blessing, fruitfulness, and eternal life. As Proverbs 3: 5–6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
For many, the devil has sown ungodly counsel directly through their thoughts or indirectly through people to control their lives. So, please audit your life and identify the counsel influencing your life, and pray that God will break you free from the impact of ungodly counsel.
Ukporhe is the Lead Pastor at Remnant Christian Network, Lagos. Raised in Sokoto, northern Nigeria, he was trained in peculiar firebrand evangelism and was ordained as a pastor in 2001. He has experienced countless and diverse workings of the faithfulness of God over two decades and has developed a passion to see God’s will for Nigeria become a reality. He can be reached at +2348060255604.
