The Heart of a Counselor
The first thing to acquire wisdom; gain understanding though
it cost you all you have. Do not forsake
her, and she will keep you safe; love her, and she will guard you; cherish her,
and she will lift you high; if only you embrace her, she will bring you honor, She will set a garland of grace on your head
and bestow on you a crown of glory. (Proverbs
4:7-10)
Oh wondrous wisdom
how beautiful you are. You bring grace
to the suffering. Your words are
soothing, covering the wounds of past hurts.
And when the listener breaks to your truth, they are healed and renewed.
(Pastor James Wise)
Scripture called Jesus wonderful counselor. His pursuit of wisdom at the very end cost
him his life, in which we all know he had foreknowledge of his fate. He knew where wisdom would take him in his
personal journey but he also knew that same wisdom would save all of
mankind. To bring to bear Proverbs
4:7-10 because Jesus did embrace wisdom, it did cost all he had; now he wears
the garland of grace and the crown of glory.
For those called to counsel we must embrace wisdom to
improve our effectiveness. Acquiring
knowledge, techniques, and universal values is not enough; it must be infused
with wisdom. We are taught to guard
against transference. Wisdom says the
opposite, in fact transference cannot be helped it is at the very core of the
process. Jesus gave us the example prior
to razing Lazareth from the dead where he cried bitterly and openly over his
friend’s death. A counselor must pour
his/her life out for others though it may cost him/her everything; it means
everything to the ones they counsel.
To be a counselor is a high calling, and the greater the
calling the higher the cost, but a humble service. We deal with the deepest emotions of the
heart and we must have an open heart to be effective at this work. Our moral and ethical compass must always
point to what heals, never to what might cause harm. Our motives must be pure rooted in Love,
Kindness, and Forgiveness. We are called
to impart truth, for only truth has the power to take root and produce
miraculous change. Embracing wisdom
imparts truth for she is clothed in truth and truth is divine for all truth
originated from God.
Jesus said, ” You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Jesus was talking to the Pharisees’ who were the counselors to the people.
As counselors we cannot take this passage lightly for it speaks to the effectiveness of our work. Clearly I must address self first, through personal trials and errors I have to deal with it and win through to freedom so I can see clearly and know truth as I have yielded to it in my own life. How can you be affective if you are not actively dealing with your own hang-ups, and hurts? As Jesus put it , it is hypocrisy. The second part is most humbling and should compel the counselor to actively engage with the soul their helping. “so you can remove the speck from your brothers eye” Even with my eyes clear the best I can do is remove a speck from my brothers eye? Indeed it takes yourself to move the plank it is a work no one else can do for you. The role of the counselor is to reveal the truth that is needed, and nurture your brother through the difficulty and pain he must walk through always in kindness, letting him know that it is all going to be just fine and you will be better for it in the end. We as counselors establish the trust to make this possible by living in the truth we are instilling. We should represent to them some of the end results, much like Jesus did in word and action. In fact Jesus is the great example of how we should live and treat others. Let us then as counselors be an example to those we serve.
Brothers and Sisters, I am so blessed to be called to counsel. I humbly thank Jesus for those who have counseled me. May I use the Grace you have given me Lord to bear fruit for your Glory and for your Kingdom. In the precious name of Jesus Amen
Hey share what you just read with a friend!
Pastor James Wise
As counselors we cannot take this passage lightly for it speaks to the effectiveness of our work. Clearly I must address self first, through personal trials and errors I have to deal with it and win through to freedom so I can see clearly and know truth as I have yielded to it in my own life. How can you be affective if you are not actively dealing with your own hang-ups, and hurts? As Jesus put it , it is hypocrisy. The second part is most humbling and should compel the counselor to actively engage with the soul their helping. “so you can remove the speck from your brothers eye” Even with my eyes clear the best I can do is remove a speck from my brothers eye? Indeed it takes yourself to move the plank it is a work no one else can do for you. The role of the counselor is to reveal the truth that is needed, and nurture your brother through the difficulty and pain he must walk through always in kindness, letting him know that it is all going to be just fine and you will be better for it in the end. We as counselors establish the trust to make this possible by living in the truth we are instilling. We should represent to them some of the end results, much like Jesus did in word and action. In fact Jesus is the great example of how we should live and treat others. Let us then as counselors be an example to those we serve.
Brothers and Sisters, I am so blessed to be called to counsel. I humbly thank Jesus for those who have counseled me. May I use the Grace you have given me Lord to bear fruit for your Glory and for your Kingdom. In the precious name of Jesus Amen
Hey share what you just read with a friend!
Pastor James Wise
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