I John 4:1 says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (KJV)

The 'Living Bible' puts it this way, "Dearly loved friends, don't always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around."

The following is from an issue of Our Daily Bread devotional: To improve efficiency, a company hired a consultant, who called a meeting of all shop personnel. Stressing the need to listen to experts, he said, "Imagine you're on the Titanic and it's sinking. You climb into a lifeboat. Which direction would you row?" Then he asked, "What if you had the ship's navigator with you? Now which way would you go? You'd row the way the navigator told you to, right?" There were murmurs of agreement until one fellow in the back piped up, "Well, I don't know. He's already hit one iceberg!" The of Proverbs urges us to get advice from the wise (1:2-7). Wisdom in the Bible is the "skill for living." The Hebrew word translated "wisdom" is the same word that's translated "skill" in reference to the detailed work of Bezalel and Aholiab in constructing the tabernacle (Exodus 31"1-11). God gave them and others skill for artwork, building, weaving, and carving. Today, wise men and women have a valuable skill - "the skill for living." Don't take your lead from others until you take a look at their lives. If they have crashed into a lot of icebergs, they may cause your life to sink as well. The "blessed" person delights in God's Word, "not in the counsel of the ungodly" (Psalm 1:1-2). When you're in need of wisdom, be careful to whom you go. Make certain they are godly, and that God's Word they know. - Fitzhugh

God's word is the final authority, even though we all need to fellowship and talk things through with other people. So, when you need answers or help along the way, please follow these simple steps:

PRAY - God is always available

READ THE BIBLE - God's Word is always true