We all make decisions and fashion our behaviors based on the influences we pay attention to.
Jehoram was influenced by his wife who was the daughter of Ahab.
“And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” (21:6)
Ahaziah, his son, was also influenced by his mother.
“He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.” (22:3)
Joash, the son of Ahaziah, was hidden away to keep Ahaziah’s mother from killing him. When he was 7 years old, he was made king and he was primarily influenced by Jehoiada the priest. “And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”(24:2). For awhile, Joash accomplished much that honored God but then his influences changed. “Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them.” (24:17) Joash then forgot all that the priest had done for him and abandoned the counsel of the Lord. He turned to idol worship and the people did also.
I think these chapters are summed up nicely by 1 Corinthians 15:33 :
“Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals.”
We have to be careful to choose wisely what influences we allow to guide us in life. The Bible, God’s Word to us, should be our ultimate resource and it has much to say about seeking counsel and advice.
I’ve listed some of those verses here:
Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Proverbs 4:13
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
It’s ok to seek out counsel but we have to be careful and make sure that counsel lines up with God’s Word and His will for our lives. Likewise, we need to be careful when offering advice that we honor God in what we say and how we represent Him to others.