April 27 | Success With Advisers

Series | The Wisdom of Proverbs, Part 1

Scripture | Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Lesson 27 | Success With Advisers   

One of the most recent failures that I faced as a pastor was moving into a large facility and having to break our lease because of the lack of finances.  Words cannot describe how defeated and discouraged I felt.  I have always boasted in not owing people anything, paying bills on time, and being an excellent tenant.  However, because of the recession and loss of people’s jobs we just couldn’t pay what we agreed to.

We were in a five-year lease and things went south within the first year.  So for the following year, almost every month, I earnestly tried to negotiate and rewrite the lease.  However, because the building owners were in over their head with the bank there was nothing they could do either.  Eventually, we had to break our lease and move back to our old building.

After this failure I started to seek advice from Christian lawyers, accountants, and local businessmen in our church and they all could relate to the kind of situation the church had faced.  However, each one of them had an advice to give in moving forward.  Their advice could be summed up as the following, (1) Don’t move into a new building without a minimum of six months savings, (2) Raise all your monies first before you look for a building, that way your not trying to raise money and pay monthly bills, and lastly, (3) Give the people a minimum of 6 months to pledge and get behind the project before you move.

After learning these lessons the hard way I thought to myself, “If I'd only gained this wisdom from them before I signed the lease for the building!”  Immediately moving forward I set up a new financial committee and we made safety measures to make sure we never got in that same situation again.  Afterward, within six months the church returned to saving, staying within our budget, and being a joy to the landlord- success! 

What are some things in your personal life or business that you should seek counsel for?  Whether it’s buying a new home, moving your family, engaging in a new business deal, overcoming sin, or saving for the future be sure to make your plans with good advice! 

 
Reflection | Are you willing to listen to good advice? 

Action | (1) Seek out three trusted advisors to have in your life. (2) Before you make a big decision seek their counsel. (3) Lastly, ask God to make you an advisor for people in their times of need.

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Judges 7:1-8:17, Luke 23:13-43, Psalm 97:1-98:9, &Proverbs 14:7-8. Click here to read online.