Esther 2:20
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
Though Esther had her issues, I believe one of Esther’s wisest traits was that she knew how to follow her advisor’s advice. When Esther went through schooling to be the next queen, Esther 2:15 says about her, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Esther followed whatever Hegai advised her to do, which resulted in her becoming the queen. In the verse above, Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. This trait of following the advice of those who were her advisors in life ultimately benefited the Jews and her future for good.
If one were to ask me what is the key to the success of what God has done through my ministry in both evangelism and in the pastorate, I would tell them that following the advice of those who trained and tried to help me is one of the great keys. When I was in evangelism, my pastor, Dr. Jack Hyles, advised me to get away from being known as a youth speaker but be an evangelist that could preach to any crowd. He said this would make my ministry effective for my entire life. I followed his advice, and it benefited me in staying booked, and it also helped me to influence more people.
When I became the pastor of the Maranatha Baptist Church, I chose not to recreate a successful wheel, but follow what made men from the past successful in building great churches for God. I served with and sat under Bro. Hyles for over a decade of my life, and I studied his methods. When I became a pastor, instead of trying to prove him wrong, I copied what he did, which has proven successful. The advice I received from Dr. Lee Roberson on building a Sunday school, I have followed that advice to my benefit and to the benefit of the hundreds who regularly attend the Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church. My success is not because I am smart, but I am smart enough to know that I don't know everything, so I follow the examples and advice of those who have been successful.
If I could get you to do one thing that would help you to be successful in life or ministry, I would try to get you to take on the trait of copying the lives of those whom God has used mightily in the past, and follow their advice instead of trying to recreate a wheel that already works. Too many are trying to recreate a wheel that works in the ministry, when the old paths have already shown us what works. The wisest person in the ministry is the one who knows they are not smart enough to make a new way, but they are smart enough to follow those who know what works.
Don't worry about what people think of you copying the patterns and examples of those who have been successful in life and in building great independent, old paths Baptist churches. Let the fools mock and criticize, but it is better to follow the advice of those who know what works than to attempt to make a new way that you don't know if it works. The Scriptures are full of people who followed the examples of someone before them. The only ones who failed in the Scriptures are those who tried to make their own way. Be smart enough to follow the examples of those who know what works, and you will find that what worked in the past still works today if you will work the plan that has already worked.
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