“Well, hello, Alice! Haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing?”
“Oh, about the same,” in a dejected tone.
“Nothing changed between you and Tom?”
“No,” Alice sighs. “He's still drinking. I don't know what to do.”
“Well, if I were you …”
How many times have you been told? How many times have you overheard the same sentence in a conversation? How many times have you said it? “If I were you, I'd tell him to hit the road. … If I were you, I'd show her who's boss. … If I were you … If I were you … If I where you.”
There are many situations in which we seek advice; sometimes from the wrong person. Although we all have well-meaning intentions, the advice we give may not be what the Lord has planned. As my mother used to say, “Every board has two sides.” So does every situation. We may only know one side and offer advice based on that perspective. It is easy for someone observing a situation with no personal interest to say what he or she would do - until they face a similar situation. Then we discover the advice we gave to a friend in a similar situation is not so easy to follow.
Jesus gave us the best advice to follow for any situation. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned” (Luke 6:37). 
Instead of saying “if I were you” the next time someone needs to talk of their problems, why don't we stop and say “I'll pray for you”. Only God knows what wondrous works could be accomplished if we were slow to judge, and quick to pray. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)