Exodus 18:21
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:”
The pressure of leading the children of Israel had evolved into something that was greater than what Moses could handle. He would literally spend all day counseling, judging and advising the people and it was wearing him down. His father-in-law wisely advised him to train several men who could help him in counseling, judging and advising the people. There were five qualifications that he gave that would be wise for anyone to follow when choosing someone to advise them.
First, they must be an able person who has the ability to handle pressure. An advisor has to be able at times to say and do the hard things. If a person is not capable of handling pressure situations, then they have no business advising someone. There are going to be times when an advisor has to rebuke or make a decision that won’t be popular. If they are not able to make and enforce decisions that are unpopular, then they have no business leading and advising others.
Second, they must be a person who fears God. The fear of God moves people to do the right thing. A person who fears God is a person who respects the power of God. A true fear of God will cause anyone not to fear man more than God. It is so important that people who lead and advise others understand that their eyes must be kept upon God in order to keep favoritism from influencing their advice.
Third, they must be a person who follows and loves truth. This is important because people who follow truth will not allow personalities or institutions to influence their position or direction. The truth of God’s Word must always be the horizon from which they determine right and wrong. A godly advisor will keep and use God’s Word as their basis for all they do and advise.
Fourth, they must be a person who is not covetous. This is so important because covetous people will use others to build their own coffers. Covetous people are self-serving people, and their advice will be skewed by how it affects them and not by what God wants for a person. Covetous advice is self-serving advice. A covetous advisor will never advise someone to do something if it hurts or hinders what the advisor wants. This is why you need a person who is truly satisfied with what they have and with who they are in position and as a person.
Fifth, they must be a person who does not desire position. It is very interesting that the men whom Moses chose would be placed over different sized groups. Advisors cannot be position hungry. Position hungry people will advise by what will help them move up and not by what God wants for a person. You want someone advising you who is truly content with the position God has given them.
These things are important for you to use in choosing an advisor. Most of these things are a package deal. You will find that if a person has two of these qualifications, they will most likely have them all. Choosing advisors with these qualifications will help you to more easily find what God wants you to do. Be careful with choosing your advisors and make sure these five things are evident in their lives.