Should You Take Advice From Friends Who Aren't Christians?

You’ve probably been there. You share a problem with a friend, and they eagerly jump in with advice. Sometimes, it’s a little weird (thanks, but I’m not putting peanut butter on my mosquito bites), but other times, it sounds solid. When that advice comes from a friend who isn’t a Christian, though, it can make you pause. Should you take advice from friends who aren’t Christians? Can true wisdom come from someone who doesn’t believe in God? Tough questions, but don’t worry — we’ll unpack it together!

Start With This Question

When someone gives you advice, ask yourself, “Does this line up with God’s Word?” Yes, even if the advice comes from a Christian friend, you still need to check! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 19:20, “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end, you will be counted among the wise.” But here’s the thing — even good-sounding advice might not match what God wants for you.

If your friend says, “Just follow your heart,” stop and think. That might feel right in the moment, but the Bible reminds us in Jeremiah 17:9 that “The heart is deceitful above all things.” God asks us to follow Him, not just our feelings.

Good Advice Can Come From Anywhere

Here's the truth — not all advice from a non-Christian friend is bad. Maybe they tell you to work hard, be kind, or forgive someone who hurt you. Those are all great things that even line up with biblical teachings. God can use anyone to speak wisdom into your life. Remember, even in the Old Testament, God used a donkey to deliver a message (Numbers 22)! If He can use a donkey, He can surely use your non-believing friend.

Be Careful Where You Place Your Trust

While good advice can come from anyone, you need to be careful about placing too much trust in people, especially those who don’t share your faith. Why? Because they don’t base their lives on the same foundation. Matthew 7:24-25 talks about building your house on a rock, which represents God’s truth. If someone’s advice doesn’t come from that solid truth, it might not hold up when life gets tough.

How To Test Advice

If you’re unsure about advice from friends who aren’t Christians, here are some things you can do to test it:

Compare it to Scripture. Does it match what God says?
Pray about it. Ask God to give you clarity and peace.
Seek counsel from trusted Christian mentors or friends. It doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion.

When you take these steps, you’ll have more confidence that the advice you follow honors God and aligns with His will for your life.

The Bottom Line

Whether from a Christian source or not, you want to make sure the advice you’re taking is biblical. Always compare it to what God and the Bible say. When you stay rooted in His truth, you set yourself up to make wise choices every time.