Question:
What is counseling?

Answer:
Counseling is advice given as a result of deliberate design, purpose, and judgment.

 

The first mention of the word counsel in the Scriptures is Exodus 18:19. We learn from Exodus 18:13-27 that there is a need for counseling (verses 14,15). Verse 21 mentions four qualifications for one to counsel: (1) “Able men.” A person must be saved to counsel. (2) “Fear God.” A fear lest we displease God is necessary if we are going to be used of God to counsel others. (3) “Men of truth.” Many people today live in a lie, which cannot please the Lord. We need to tell the truth and counsel the truth. (4) “Hating covetousness.” We cannot help others if we want to please ourselves. We need to be thankful and happy to be able to be used of God. If the campers confront us with a problem–sometimes it is hard to tell the truth, but in the end it will help more than hurt them. The kids will watch to see if we are willing to give up everything to help them.

 

Christ alone is the “Counsellor” (Isaiah 9:6). He is the originator of all counsel (Romans 11:33-36), and children are to be brought up in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). They are not to be provoked to wrath. It is easy to tease and have fun with the kids, but we also need to know when to stop and be sensitive to their needs and feelings.
After Christ died, rose again, and was glorified at the right hand of God, the Father sent “another Comforter” or Counsellor, Who dwells in every believer today. He is the Spirit of God, the third Person of the Godhead (John 7:39, John 14:16,17). He teaches us all things and brings all things to our remembrance that Christ has said to us (John 14:26). He glorifies Christ through the Word. So a Spirit-filled (or Spirit-controlled) Christian is a Word-filled Christian (John 16:13,14, Ephesians 5:18).
The Spirit changes or transforms Christians into the image of Christ if we are taken up with Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). We need to be willing to be changed by the Lord to be used of Him.
The Greek word for counseling is “nouthesia,” which is translated “admonition” and “warn” in our Bibles. Nouthesia implies:

(1) That there is an obstacle or problem to be overcome.

(2) A word of encouragement, warning, or reproof with the authority of the Word.

(3) That verbal correction is intended to benefit the counselee.
To admonish we need the Word of Christ (God) dwelling in us richly, and bubbling out of us (Colossians 3:16); we need to be full of goodness and all knowledge (Romans 15:14), and we need wisdom to know how to use the knowledge the Lord has given to us. God gives wisdom liberally to all who ask Him for it (James 1:5).
Counseling is the Lord’s work, not ours, but it does include personal involvement. For three years Paul “ceased not to warn (admonish) everyone night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). He had “deep concern” for all the assemblies (2 Corinthians 11:28, NKJV). There is reward for trying to help others, for the Lord promises: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing” (Psalm 126:5,6).
These notes were taken by Andie Helsel the evening of Nov. 27, and the morning of Nov. 28, 1992 at a retreat for Junior Counselors at Camp.