“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.” Prov. 12:15. “The righteous guides his neighbor; but the way of the ungodly leads him astray.” Prov. 12:26. You will become like the person with whom you associate, whose words you like to hear, and whose advice you follow. Therefore you ought not to listen to what a fool says about anything if you wish to become wise. Do not consult with a lazy person about how you can get much work done in a short period of time. Do not ask the merchant whether he thinks it pays to buy his merchandise. Do not listen to a miserly person’s judgment concerning generosity. Do not consult a cowardly, fearful, and spineless person about using the sword of the Spirit, about how to wage war. Do not seek guidance on the way of mercy from a cold, hard-hearted man. Do not ask those who persistently use every possible opportunity to be noticed about humility. Do not ask a person who uses all his artifice and diligence to protest about the advantage of being submissive. Do not believe a woman who is proud, displaying a domineering attitude in the assembly when she interprets 1 Timothy 2:11 and 12, nor a talented, self-assured, extremely well-read, modern woman when she is to air her opinion eloquently concerning 1 Corinthians 11:1-10, 1 Timothy 2:14 and 15, and 1 Peter 3:1-6. Do not ask a “Prayer Chapel” man about 1 John 3:6 or a Pentecostal about 1 John 1:8. It would be just as foolish to ask the “priest” after a Bible study about 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 or a Methodist about Galatians 1:10 or a Baptist about 1 Corinthians 1:14; and you would hardly be encouraged unto perfect obedience to the Word if you asked a “Salvation Army” member about how far you needed to abide by Proverbs 15:8. Neither ask someone who is well spoken of by everyone what Jesus could mean by what He said in Luke 6:26. If you seek peace and meekness, do not inquire of a bad-tempered and impetuous person. Do not seek consolation from your doubting friend if you are troubled by unbelief and doubt, for that is just as insane as if you drank poison so you could live long. If you are saved from being a slave to intoxicating drink, then do not rent a room from a drunkard. If you have been plagued by unchastity toward your own sex, then do not let hospitality move you to invite someone to share a bed with you. If you are inclined to speak about others’ mistakes, then do not choose a girl for a friend who could be well-suited to be the president of a backbiting club. If you desire to learn to be quiet and speak at the appropriate time, then converse with people who can speak when no one else knows what to say, but who can also be quiet when others are like the roaring sea. If you desire always to be of good courage, then stay away from people whose courage often goes down to zero. It is dangerous for every weak person to keep company with such people. Such people are very much like a binge drinker. Even if he leads you forward on the “way of courage” when he is sober, he will drag you seven steps backward on the way of discouragement on his next binge. Do not ask people who live in luxury what Paul could possibly mean by the great gain that he recommends in 1 Timothy 6:6. Therefore: Seek advice according to your need, but seek it with understanding and not thoughtlessly! For it also goes badly when you act thoughtlessly.Elias Aslaksen

“Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river. Suddenly there came up out of the river seven cows, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine looking and fat cows. So Pharaoh awoke.” Gen. 41:1-4 [Emphasis added]. In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees and the scribes were considered “fine-looking cows” in the eyes of men, and not least in the eyes of Pharaoh (in the eyes of evil spirit powers). Jesus had no form or comeliness, that people should esteem him, and neither did His disciples. They were like ugly, gaunt cows. You could also describe the Catholic Church and the state churches as fine-looking, fat cows, who despise the gaunt, “heretical” and “sectarian” cows. Pharaoh is enjoying all this, and he continues to sleep and dream. But when the seven gaunt and ugly cows eat up the seven fine-looking and fat ones, Pharaoh wakes up. This story has repeated itself in Christendom all through time. When God sends a revival, seven cows immediately appear out of the river, fine-looking and fat. They gorge themselves on God’s grace and become mighty and rich. They look with contempt on the seven gaunt cows, who are obedient to the Word regarding perseverance, frugality, obedience, etc. The fat cows consider such words bondage. But one day, in God’s good time, the seven gaunt cows—the ones that were so strongly warned against—eat up the seven fine-looking and fat cows. Then Pharaoh wakes up. Strange that he doesn’t continue to sleep. Perhaps he has a lot at stake. In our day, too, the seven fine-looking and fat cows have met their end. There are no more meadows, and the manger is empty. Good counsel is now a precious rarity. The gaunt cows have become accustomed to their lean diet, so things aren’t so difficult for them. They have been open to exhortation and have allowed themselves to be forewarned. They have gathered oil in their vessels. When God withdraws His grace, everyone senses a shortage, both the fat and the gaunt cows. Then it is important that you have not gorged yourself in the good times so that you have nothing left for the bad times. So let not the rich boast of his wealth, since the poor are just waiting to devour his goods. Let not those who are gifted and highly esteemed in spiritual matters exalt themselves over the less gifted. The important thing for all of us is that we do not allow grace to be in vain. Our state church uses the word “sectarian” in just the same way as the Catholics use the word “heresy” to mean that someone has chosen to worship God outside the state church. Do you think God is dependent on the state church? Or is He dependent on any other denomination? Isn’t it people as individuals whom God loves, and didn’t Jesus die for them? He certainly didn’t die for institutions and the work of men. So let there be an end to all this ridiculous talk of “heresy” and “sectarianism.” This only shows that the people who write and speak in such a way are “heretics” and “sectarians” themselves. Let love reign; then you will love people for who they are. That is what God does. If we do the same, a significant measure of Christ’s mind will be our portion. But if anyone regards himself as fine, fat and beautiful, let him remember that there are seven gaunt, thin and ugly cows ready to eat him up. God has so ordained it, and it doesn’t matter a bit if Pharaoh wakes up and protests. Who holds the Pharisees and scribes in high regard today? It seems like the gaunt cows of former days ate them up; people now praise Jesus and the apostles rather than the Pharisees and scribes. About a hundred years ago in Norway, we had one of the gaunt cows here. His name was Hans Nilsen Hauge. The fat cows tried as hard as they could to eat him up, but where are they today? The fact is that Hans Nilsen Hauge has eaten them up, and all that is left of them is their dishonor, while Hauge shines like a sun. See to it that you are not found among the fine, fat, beautiful cows who despise the ugly and gaunt ones. You might end up as part of the dark background that causes their light to shine even brighter. There is nothing new under the sun.Johan O. Smith