“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!”
We usually think that it is harder to receive advice than it is to give advice. But, both are similarly hard. Seth Godin says this about receiving advice, “It’s quite natural to be defensive in the face of criticism. After all, the critic is often someone with an agenda that’s different from yours. But advice, solicited advice from a well-meaning and insightful expert? If you confuse that with criticism, you’ll leave a lot of wisdom on the table.” He goes on to say that we can think about advice like clothes, just try it on and walk around in the store/moment and stand in front of a mirror/ourselves and see what we think. More often than not we will know what we like or don’t like. But giving advice, well that is a whole other story. It’s easy to criticize, but not so easy to give insightful, caring and constructive advice, especially when we know that the advice might sting a little. But, for those that we care and love, we can’t not give our advice; that is if we really care about the well-being and improvement of others.
Solomon tells us that we all enjoy the fitting reply and that when we say the right thing, at the right time, it is wonderful to experience. We can wrap advice in here as well because good advice can also be fitting for when we need it and know we can count on someone wise and caring to help us along. We can be that person for others and when we are that person, we can be there for them in their times of need. Jesus taught us to be this way when He commanded us to love one another. Consider today who might want and need a little advice from someone who is there for them because of our love for Christ.
Reference: Proverbs 15:23 (New Living Translation)