Skip to content
Verse 18
Theosis · English Bible
Tobit

Tobit 4

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1In that day Tobit remembered the money which he had committed to Gabael in Rages of Media, 2and said with himself, I have wished for death; wherefore do I not call for my son Tobias, that I may signify to him of the money before I die? 3And when he had called him, he said, My son, when I am dead, bury me; and despise not thy mother, but honour her all the days of thy life, and do that which shall please her, and grieve her not. 4Remember, my son, that she saw many dangers for thee, when thou wast in her womb; and when she is dead, bury her by me in one grave. 5My son, be mindful of the Lord our God all thy days, and let not thy will be set to sin, or to transgress his commandments: do uprightly all thy life long, and follow not the ways of unrighteousness. 6For if thou deal truly, thy doings shall prosperously succeed to thee, and to all them that live justly. 7Give alms of thy substance; and when thou givest alms, let not thine eye be envious, neither turn thy face from any poor, and the face of God shall not be turned away from thee. 8If thou hast abundance, give alms accordingly: if thou have but a little, be not afraid to give according to that little: 9for thou layest up a good treasure for thyself against the day of necessity. 10Because that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come into darkness. 11For alms is a good gift unto all that give it in the sight of the most High. 12Beware of all whoredom, my son, and chiefly take a wife of the seed of thy fathers, and take not a strange woman to wife, which is not of thy father's tribe: for we are the children of the prophets, Noe, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remember, my son, that our fathers from the beginning, even that they all married wives of their own kindred, and were blessed in their children, and their seed shall inherit the land. 13Now therefore, my son, love thy brethren, and despise not in thy heart thy brethren, the sons and daughters of thy people, in not taking a wife of them: for in pride is destruction and much trouble, and in lewdness is decay and great want: for lewdness is the mother of famine. 14Let not the wages of any man, which hath wrought for thee, tarry with thee, but give him it out of hand: for if thou serve God, he will also repay thee: be circumspect, my son, in all things thou doest, and be wise in all thy conversation. 15Do that to no man which thou hatest: drink not wine to make thee drunken: neither let drunkenness go with thee in thy journey. 16Give of thy bread to the hungry, and of thy garments to them that are naked; and according to thine abundance give alms; and let not thine eye be envious, when thou givest alms. 17Pour out thy bread on the burial of the just, but give nothing to the wicked. 18Ask counsel of all that are wise, and despise not any counsel that is profitable. 19Bless the Lord thy God alway, and desire of him that thy ways may be directed, and that all thy paths and counsels may prosper: for every nation hath not counsel; but the Lord himself giveth all good things, and he humbleth whom he will, as he will; now therefore, my son, remember my commandments, neither let them be put out of thy mind. 20And now I signify this to thee, that I committed ten talents to Gabael the son of Gabrias at Rages in Media. 21And fear not, my son, that we are made poor: for thou hast much wealth, if thou fear God, and depart from all sin, and do that which is pleasing in his sight.

Book overviewPrevious chapterNext chapter
Read chapter in the app
Tobit 4:18

John of Tobolsk

John of Tobolsk17th century

Various resources exist for discerning God's will in uncertain situations. Beyond the aforementioned commandments and church regulations, these include spiritually mature and genuinely Christian people who clarify God's intentions amid our misunderstandings (for instance, confessors and pastors). They serve as both spiritual and practical guides for our conscience and encompass parents, educators, and all duly appointed leaders in society.

For illustrative purposes, consider historical instances: When Saul fully submitted to God’s will and inquired, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" the Lord did not burden him with detailed commands nor did he immediately impart the Spirit of wisdom. Instead, as a disciple, he directed him to Ananias, saying, "Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do" (Acts 9:6). Ananias served as a trustworthy interpreter of God's will for Paul, much like St. Peter was for Cornelius the centurion (Acts 10). This illustrates God's desire to unveil His intentions to humanity through other individuals. Thus, we ought to value the sound counsel of others: "Ask every prudent man for advice, and do not neglect helpful advice" (Tob. 4:18). Following such guidance will not lead to regret. "The heart of a man may express more than seven onlookers observing from a high vantage point. Yet, in all these matters, pray to the Most High that He may lead your path in truth" (Sir. 37:18-19).

Always seek to engage with righteous individuals, someone known to uphold the commandments of the Lord, who resonates with your soul, and who will grieve with you in times of distress. "Keep the counsel of your heart, for there is no one more faithful to you than he" (Ibid., vv. 15-17). To navigate our uncertainties regarding acting in accordance with God's will, we should seek the wisdom and guidance of our spiritual leaders to whom we have entrusted our conscience and moral lives. Broadly, when faced with dilemmas, rely on the authorities in power, whose intentions (barring those leading to sin) reflect God’s will. We must accept their guidance (again, excluding sinful directives) as divinely appointed and fulfill it.

The holy Apostle Paul exemplifies this principle. While recounting his experiences to the Galatians following his conversion, he notes, "Fourteen years later I went again (by revelation of God) to Jerusalem with Barnabas" (Gal. 2). Why did Paul postpone his journey to Jerusalem for such an extended period? He responds, "I needed to present to the eminent apostles the gospel that I preached to the Gentiles, to assess whether my efforts had been in vain or if they were indeed fruitful." Therefore, this world preacher, who proclaimed the good news to the Gentiles for fourteen years as the least of the apostles, presented his teachings to the leading apostles for their evaluation, inviting them to act as overseers of his preaching. He sought their collective agreement on his doctrine so that whatever the leading apostles affirmed or adjusted, he would embrace and convey to the Gentiles.

It is remarkable that Paul states, "I went by revelation." If he traveled to Jerusalem by divine revelation, then in a similar manner, the decisions made by the Council of Apostles should have been revealed to him. However, this latter revelation was unnecessary to illustrate that God aims for human edification through revelation but also wishes for individuals to be enriched through the insights of others. Paul's presentation of his doctrine to the apostolic council did not stem from his own doubts regarding its integrity but was more crucial for others, both believers and skeptics. This approach to addressing uncertainties has always been embraced by those who sincerely sought to align with God’s will—they consulted with the elders and heeded their wise counsel. "Stay on your paths," says the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, "and consider, and inquire about the ancient paths; where is the good way? Walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" (Jeremiah 6:16).