Alan Smith relates a story that supposedly took place on an ocean liner sometime in the middle of the last century. Seated in one of the ship’s dining rooms, comedic/dramatic actress Billie Burke (whose film credits involve some 88 titles from 1916 to 1960, including the 1937 “Topper” series) noticed another passenger who seemed to be suffering from severe head congestion. She asked him if he was feeling ill, to which he replied he was.

“I'll tell you just what to do about it,” she said. “Go back to your room and drink lots of orange juice. Take two aspirins. Cover yourself with all the blankets you can find. Sweat the cold out. I know just what I'm talking about. I'm Billie Burke from Hollywood.” The man smiled and thanked her, and then added, “By the way, I'm Dr. Mayo from the Mayo Clinic.”

I don’t know which of the famous Mayo brothers was on that ocean voyage. They were all literally “legends in their own time.” I’m sure Ms. Burke meant well in her prescriptive recommendations. However, it’s sort of like me trying to give Neil Armstrong advice on how to fly to the moon!

There are lots of people from whom we can get advice. In fact, about all you have to do is let it be known you want or need to do something, and you’re likely to get more advice than you can use. Of course, as the story demonstrates, not all counsel needs to be treated the same. As Alan Smith said, when it comes to medical matters, I would prefer to take the advice of an esteemed doctor over that of a famous actress. The willingness to seek advice when we’re uninformed or uncertain is important. No one knows everything about anything. And when the need is truly important — such as a medical concern — we need to search for the best.

The same is true in spiritual matters. The Bible says that the discerning man is willing to seek and accept good advice to order to realize spiritual goals. Solomon, said “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Proverbs 19:20). Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, ruined the nation of Judah because of his refusal to accept wise counsel (See 1 Kings 12). He took advice, but the wrong kind. Like others, he sought and accepted the counsel of his friends, who agreed with him. The “rich, young ruler” refused to follow the instruction of the Master Counselor to secure his eternal salvation by ridding himself of his possessions (Matthew 19:16-22).

Life is filled with choices. Some are easy; others can be extremely difficult. Especially in spiritual concerns, we need to give ourselves the best opportunity to make the right decision by seeking the help of those who have proven themselves to be the wisest.