Advisors: Of Counsel and Character

I've been thinking about the President-elect's opportunity to select his cabinet - those men and women who will be his closest advisors.  It is interesting to watch the process unfold, and would be fascinating to be able to peek behind the scenes and see the inner workings of the decision-making and selection process.

The character of an advisor is often indicative of the quality of her/his advice.  We see this often in Scripture, but never so clearly as in the case of Jonadab advising Amnon regarding Tamar (2 Samuel 13).   

This whole, sordid story begins because Amnon listens to bad advice. Ever looking for an opportunity to ingratiate himself with the man who will one day be king, Jonadab guises himself in a cloak of concern when he observes Amnon’s anxious, disheveled appearance. He no doubt believes that helping Amnon get what he wants will result in Jonadab getting what he wants—the perks and power associated with being in the future king’s inner circle.

Jonadab’s deceitful plan is only a reflection of what is in his heart. Deceiving David and violating Tamar are deemed justifiable if the result is Amnon’s satisfaction.

The character of your friends is often indicative of the quality of their advice. Leaders can quickly get themselves in trouble by selecting advisers based on competence alone, without considering character. The fruit of Jonadab’s bad character is bad advice. A generation later, Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, will also seek advice from the wrong kind of friends.  The consequences of that advice, like Jonadab’s, will prove devastating.

Leaders need advisers with good character. Such advisers can offer counsel that has the best interests of the organization in mind, rather than guidance that has the best interests of the adviser in mind.

If the advice you receive comes from a person of bad character, you would be wise to reconsider before implementing that person’s advice. If the advice you receive entails the deception or violation of another, you would be wise to completely ignore that person’s advice.

The kind of advice you seek also reveals your own character. You can always find someone who will validate your desires and tell you what you want to hear. Only strong leaders value truth more than the validation of their own opinions and desires.

Beware of counsel offered by persons of bad character, for the fruit of bad character is bad advice. 

Excerpt taken from Eddie Estep, Who’s By Your Side?: More Leadership Lessons from the Life of King David (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 2016).

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