Jason constantinoff
on August 29, 2023
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"And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:" (1 Kings 12:7-8)
Solomon reigned for forty years, the same number of years as his father David. Because his heart turned to other gods, the LORD promised ten tribes to one of his overseers, Jeroboam.
When Solomon's son, Rehoboam, was to be crowned king, the people asked him to please lighten the burden Solomon had placed on them. Solomon had heavily taxed the people and given them assignments in service to the kingdom. Rehoboam asked the people to give him three days to consider the matter.
First, he went to the elders that had advised his father. They had been a part of the success of his father and had a track record of giving good advice having hung around Solomon all those years. They had years of experience and were probably very wise individuals. They advised Rehoboam to be a servant leader. They told him that if he would indeed lighten their load, they would keep their word and serve him faithfully all their life.
Well, Rehoboam didn't like that advice. He wanted what his father had. Why should he tighten his belt and do with less? He sought out the advice of those young whippersnappers he had grown up with. They told him what he wanted to hear. He answered the people that he would be harsher than his father. The ten northern tribes drew away with Jeroboam as their leader, fulfilling the Word of God.
Mankind always wants more don't they? It's always hard for the carnal nature to be content with the modest things of life, but oh so easy to desire more. In Rehoboam's greed, he lost nearly all. Instead of a minor cutback he suffered a major one.
When seeking advice, we have a tendency to look to those who will tell us what we want to hear; but we'll reject the advice of those who tell us what we need to hear. Though age does not always bring wisdom, it's best to ask advice of those who have the kind of life that shows they know their stuff. You will often find that people who love God's Word are people who know God's will and speak with Godly wisdom!
Friends, refusing sound Scriptural advice will often cause one to end up with even less than what they feared losing at the start.
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Rachel
Amen
August 29, 2023