Do you get frustrated when you try to help friends solve their problems and they don’t listen?

Exo 10:7  And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed? 

Moses warned Pharaoh about the plague of locusts that would come. For the first time the officers of Pharaoh intervened before the plague arrived. They didn’t take the threat lightly. Having lost most of their cattle and a large part of the crops to the previous plagues, they dreaded what would be the consequence of things if a swarm of locusts were to come. It would certainly ruin the whole country. Therefore, they pled with Pharaoh to let Israel go. (Exodus 10:7). But Pharaoh would not listen to the advice of his court officials.

Do you get frustrated when you try to help friends solve their problems and they don’t listen? Some people just won’t listen to good advice. What can you do? There is nothing you can do except to watch them sink deeper into trouble.

They are many reasons why some people do not listen to advice. From the Christian’s perspective and as an elder of a congregation, I would like to give three reasons.

1. SIN. Some just love their sins. Perhaps they are already addicted to them, like playing games or serving the internet on the handphone even when in worship and bible class. Some just cannot get their eyes off their phones. It is pitiful. “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

It can be any sin – drunkenness, laziness, immoral, stubbornness, selfishness, hatred, bitterness, unforgiving, and etc. They will not turn away from their sins. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9).

2. REBELLION. Some just want to rebel: “Why should I listen to you?” They don’t listen to parents, elders, and church members. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23).

One of the causes of rebellion is PRIDE. Some think they are just too good and will not listen to the advice from others. Such people love to argue that they have done nothing wrong: “Argument only comes by pride, but wisdom is with those who take advice” (Proverbs 13:10, LITV).

3. APATHY. Apathy is a state of indifference. It is a lack of feeling, emotion, interest, and concern. Simply put, it is an attitude of “I don’t care.”  “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelations 3:16).

Do you listen to sound advice? Solomon says: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15).

Unfortunately, those in the categories mentioned above will listen to bad advice. They listen to advice that tell them they can drink a little, lie a little, miss the worship a little, swear a little, and play a little during worship. Paul warns: “Do not be deceived: Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). They have been deceived.

There are many examples of good advice in the Bible. The leper Naaman, came to prophet Elisha for healing. But he left in a rage because he didn't like what the prophet told him to do. Well, his servants advised him to listen to the prophet. He did and dipped in the Jordan seven times as Elisha instructed and was healed (2 Kings 5:1-13).

Let us be thankful to God for those who will give good advice. It is because they care and love us: “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.