WHAT QUALITIES MUST I HAVE?

4. If we are to benefit from good advice, what qualities must we have?

⁴ We must be humble and modest to benefit from good advice. We need to recognize that we may not have the experience or the knowledge to make a wise choice all on our own. If we do not have humility and modesty, Jehovah will not be able to help us. Consequently, any advice we do receive when reading God’s Word may run off us like water off a stone. (Mic. 6:8; 1 Pet. 5:5) However, if we are humble and modest, we will be quick to absorb the Bible-based advice we hear and to benefit from it.

5. What achievements could have made King David become proud?

⁵ Consider what we can learn from the example of King David. His achievements could have made him become proud. Long before he ascended to the throne, he was famous for his ability as a musician. He was even asked to perform for the king. (1 Sam. 16:18, 19) After anointing David as the next king, Jehovah empowered him with His holy spirit. (1 Sam. 16:11-13) He was popular among his people for striking down their enemies, including the Philistine giant Goliath. (1 Sam. 17:37, 50; 18:7) A proud man who had achieved such great things could have thought that he had no need to listen to advice from others. But not David.

6. How do we know that David welcomed advice? (See also picture.)

⁶ After being installed as king, David kept close company with men who gave him advice. (1 Chron. 27:32-34) This is not surprising, for David had a record of listening to good advice. He accepted it not only from men but also from a woman named Abigail. She was the wife of the disrespectful, ungrateful, and egotistical man Nabal. David humbly applied her good advice and, as a result, avoided making a terrible mistake.​—1 Sam. 25:2, 3, 21-25, 32-34.

7. What lessons can we learn from David’s example? (Ecclesiastes 4:13) (See also pictures.)

⁷ From David, we can learn some lessons. For instance, we may be talented or have a measure of authority. Even so, we should never think that we know it all and do not need advice. And like David, we should be willing to listen to good advice, no matter who gives it. (Read Ecclesiastes 4:13.) If we do, we will likely avoid making big mistakes that can bring grief to us and to others.

HOW CAN I KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND HEART?

11-12. (a) Sometimes, what might we do? (b) What did King Rehoboam do when he had to make an important decision?

¹¹ Sometimes, a person might appear to be seeking advice, but in reality, he just wants confirmation from others about a decision that he has already made. Such an individual does not really have an open mind and heart. He should take as a warning what happened to King Rehoboam.

¹² Rehoboam succeeded King Solomon as ruler of Israel. Rehoboam inherited a nation that had been prosperous, but the people felt that Solomon had demanded too much from them. The people came to Rehoboam and pleaded with him to lighten their burden. Rehoboam asked them to give him time to think about the decision he would make. He started well, asking for counsel from the older men who had helped Solomon. (1 Ki. 12:2-7) However, he rejected the advice given by these older men. Why would he do that? Had Rehoboam already decided what he was going to do and was just looking for someone to agree with him? If so, he found that confirmation in the advice that he received from his younger friends. (1 Ki. 12:8-14) Rehoboam answered his subjects according to that advice. As a result, the nation split, and from then on, Rehoboam had constant trouble.​—1 Ki. 12:16-19.

13. How can we know if we have an open mind and heart?

¹³ What can we learn from Rehoboam’s example? When we ask for advice, we must have an open mind and heart. How can we know if we do? We could ask ourselves, ‘Do I ask for advice and then immediately reject it because it is not what I want to hear?’ Consider an example.

14. When we receive advice, what must we remember? Illustrate. (See also picture.)

¹⁴ Imagine that a brother has received an attractive job offer. Before he accepts it, he asks an elder for advice. The brother mentions that the job would require him to be away from his family for extended periods of time. The elder reminds the brother of the Bible principle that his primary responsibility is to provide for his family’s spiritual needs. (Eph. 6:4; 1 Tim. 5:8) Suppose that the brother immediately finds fault with the elder’s words and asks other brothers about the matter until he is told what he wants to hear. Is the brother really seeking advice, or has he already made up his mind and is just looking for someone to agree with him? We must remember that our heart is treacherous. (Jer. 17:9) Sometimes, the advice we need the most is the advice we want to hear the least.