A teacher comes into the classroom and sees one of her student’s discouragement on his face. She knows he has been struggling in keeping up with classroom work, but to this point he has sought no help from her or any of the other teachers. She comes in and walks over to the student and sits down beside him and begins to speak. She learns from him that he hates school, others make fun of him, life at home is miserable and that he can’t do anything right. She tries to encourage him, letting him know that she is available if he wants to talk. He is reassured, but she reads his face and sees that he is not interested in sharing his problem with her. Finally, at this point, she becomes a little more plain-spoken and says, “You can’t hardly improve your grades in school with the effort you put forth. You have not come to me seeking any kind of help; instead, you have tried to go it alone. When I did offer you some help, you ran away. You did not want to address the difficulties that you have placed yourself in. With such a counsel that you give yourself there is no chance for you to improve your grades or your life like you want! If you want a difference in your life to begin, start with where you are at and resolve to persevere through the hard times that will surely come. If you want it bad enough, then you will do what it takes to get to the point you want to be.”

Teachers need to take their own counsel as they offer counsel to the youth.

A preacher looks at the congregation and sees exactly this among many of the members. Lest the preacher be excused, he needs to take his own counsel also.  RT