4-8 Out to sea again, we sailed north under the protection of the northeast shore of Cyprus because winds out of the west were against us, and then along the coast westward to the port of Myra. There the centurion found an Egyptian ship headed for Italy and transferred us on board. We ran into bad weather and found it impossible to stay on course. After much difficulty, we finally made it to the southern coast of the island of Crete and docked at Good Harbour (appropriate name!).

9-10 By this time we had lost a lot of time. We had passed the autumn equinox, so it would be stormy weather from now on through the winter, too dangerous for sailing. Paul warned, “I see only disaster ahead for cargo and ship—to say nothing of our lives!—if we put out to sea now.”

12,11 But it was not the best harbor for staying the winter. Phoenix, a few miles further on, was more suitable. The centurion set Paul’s warning aside and let the ship captain and the shipowner talk him into trying for the next harbour. (The Message)

‘The season for navigation with sailing vessels was drawing to a close, and Paul counseled delay, but his words were unheeded. The man who knew God was wiser than the men who knew the sea.’ F.B. Meyer

As we seek to discern the best path through life, we do well to listen to the counsel of wise, people who are in touch with God. In setting Paul’s warning aside, the Centurion put the ship, and everyone on board, in great jeopardy. (We will see even more about how bad things got next time).

Proverbs 11:14: “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety”.

A man who was in a recruitment process, which would involve him leaving a large church, in order to head up a different kind of ministry, asked permission to speak to one or two people whose opinion he valued. In doing so he quoted the above Proverb.

I remember someone saying in years gone by that, if we cut ourselves off from feedback we are stifling the opportunity to grow.

”My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19)