Should you second the motion?

"the Lord is with you"

2 Samuel 7:3

I've been thinking lately about the concept of "getting a second opinion".  We think of that in terms of medical opinions, but really we get another opinion a whole lot more often than that.

Because anytime we ask advice of someone, we're asking a second opinion ~ in addition to our own, that is.

It's risky.  Often we have an idea of what we want to do.  What we want in advice is someone who will echo what we think already.  And we can generally find that, although we might have to ask a few people.

Scripture has lots of examples of people getting second opinions.  Like Abraham deciding it would be safer for him, when traveling, to pass off Sarah as his sister instead of his wife.  (Genesis 20)  The Bible doesn't give us any indication that Sarah thought this was a bad idea;  seems like she just went along with it.

Or all of Joseph's brothers.  In Genesis 37, they all seconded (and thirded, and fourthed.... ) Judah's idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites as a slave.  {Although, to his credit, the oldest brother Reuben seems not to have been a part of this decision.}

Have you ever had the chance to say to someone, "Go; do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you." ?  Do you have that responsibility with anyone?  Your spouse; a friend who has come to you for counsel; a partner in business or ministry?  It's serious business to tell someone yay or nay without asking God what encouragement or discouragement He wants you to give. 

Anytime anyone ever says to you, "what do you think?" you have a responsibility to guide as God guides you to guide.  

Otherwise they're just your words.  And you can do better than that.

~ "The children of Israel went up 

and wept before the Lord until evening, 

and asked counsel of the Lord" ~

Judges 20:23