July 17, 2025
What is the best advice you have received? What have others said to you, maybe unsolicited, that made a real and helpful impact on the way you live?
Wisdom can be defined as the right application of knowledge. The best advice will be the right application of knowledge with biblical support.
Here are five pieces of random, yet helpful, advice I have received and tried to apply with positive results.
1. Take an annual vacation with your family: The biblical admonition to provide for one’s own family (1Timothy 5:8) does not require an annual family vacation, and there are many in Christian leadership all over the world who will not be able to manage such a luxury. A family vacation, however, can be a great way to show love and care for one’s family. I heard Charles Stanley give this advice in a lecture to leaders. In essence, he exhorted pastors and ministry leaders to save their money and do the best they could to take their family on a nice vacation each year. Ministry is not only tough on leaders but also on their families, and an annual vacation is one way leaders can love their families.
2. Put away money for retirement: Proverbs 13:22a tells us, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” Don Spencer, recently retired Church Financial Benefits Consultant for the KBC, spent more than four decades encouraging pastors and church staff to put away as much as they were able for retirement. I spoke recently to a retiring pastor who also urged me to tell younger pastors about the importance of saving for retirement. Financial expert Dave Ramsey reminds his listeners if they put away $100 a month from age 26 to age 65 in a good mutual fund averaging 12% growth, they will have more than $1.1 million at retirement. The best advice is to put away as much as you can as early as you can.
3. Take care of your people: Pastors are called to shepherd the flock that God has called them to serve (1 Peter 5:2). While not all ministry leaders are pastors, we are called to care for those who are members of our staff. Paul Chitwood shared advice he heard from retired U.S. Army General Colin Powell. When asked what advice he had for younger leaders, Powell said something on the order of, “Do your job, don’t worry about your next job, and take care of your troops.” That is good advice for all who are in positions of ministry leadership.
4. Always be on time: Proverbs 3:27 reminds us, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” One way that we can do good for others is by being on time for appointments and meetings. Being on time shows that you honor and respect the person with whom you are meeting and that their time is valuable. I heard the advice to “always be on time” repeated by an administrative assistant in a church I served, Mrs. Helen Stanfill. Helen told me on more than one occasion how she drilled into her sons, who both had successful careers, that they may not be the smartest or most talented person in any setting, but they could always be on time. This is good advice for ministry leaders as well.
5. Hug your wife: Ephesians 5:25 admonishes married men, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” I do not remember where I heard this advice, but I thought it was good counsel: Hug your wife four times a day. Hug her when you first see each other in the morning to get your day off to a good start. Hug her before you leave the house as you may never see each other again in this world. Hug her when the two of you meet up at the end of the day to continue the relational connection. Then finally hug her before you go to bed as a way to end the day on a good note.
Maybe some of this advice can help you in your desire to walk with God and love people. Maybe you have also received sound advice that needs to be passed on to others.
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Todd Gray is executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. This commentary first appeared in Kentucky Today.
