Xanthe Hancox

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favourable answer, they will always be your servants.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.1 Kings 12:6-8a

While Solomon was still king the Lord promised another man, Jeroboam, that he would rule over ten of the tribes of Israel because of Solomon's sin.  Solomon's response to this promise was anger and to seek to kill Jeroboam who fled to Egypt.

Now Solomon is dead and his son Rehoboam has become king in his place.  Rehoboam gets his first test in leadership, and he fails miserably.  In response to the plea of the people he rejects the good advice he receives, and goes to his mates who tell him what he wants to hear.

This is such a critical failing that all of us can fall into.  We often prefer to seek out the advice of people who we know will tell us want we want to hear, rather than the good advice we need to hear.

The consequence for Rehoboam was that ten of the tribes would turn away from him to follow Jeroboam.  In the same way, listening to bad advice can have disastrous consequences in our lives.  Poor career choices, wrecked marriages, financial hardship, damaged relationships, these are just a few of the consequences we can experience.  How much better to follow after wise counsel, rather than simply our own desires.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the humility to seek and to follow godly counsel.  Thank you for the Bible that so clearly handles life's questions, and for the support and wisdom of Christian friends and mentors who have the courage to tell me things I often don’t want to hear. Amen