1 Kings 12:1-15
Have you ever reached out to someone seeking wisdom and guidance? You hope they are going to tell you what you think is right in a situation just to tell you almost the opposite. In that moment you struggle to hear it because it's not what you want to hear but maybe it's what you needed to hear. In today's passage we are going to see the struggles of rejecting wise counsel and how it creates issues beyond what we intended.
We find in verse 6-7 that Rehoboam had sought wise counsel from the Elders. They told him, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
However, he chose not to listen to them. Rather, he listened to the young men he grew up with. We see in verse 8-9 that he sought the wisdom of his friends which was contrary to the leaders. The problem wasn't because of the age; the issue was the advice given was appealing to Rehoboam’s desire for power! I ask you today, do you have discernment about who you allow to influence you? In today’s world we are constantly being influenced with social media and technology. We must be willing to manage who is influencing us. Ask yourself if people are speaking life into you or just saying what you want to hear.
We see that Rehoboam chose to listen to the younger friends and responded harshly to the people. When we don't listen to wisdom, we are making a small problem much bigger. In our walk, not seeking or not listening to wisdom can lead to the possibility of damaged relations, destroying trust, creating a major problem. So, I ask you today before you respond emotionally, consider where your response could lead you. Are you willing to listen to wisdom when told something you don't want to hear? That’s where true growth happens.
We find in verse 6-7 that Rehoboam had sought wise counsel from the Elders. They told him, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
However, he chose not to listen to them. Rather, he listened to the young men he grew up with. We see in verse 8-9 that he sought the wisdom of his friends which was contrary to the leaders. The problem wasn't because of the age; the issue was the advice given was appealing to Rehoboam’s desire for power! I ask you today, do you have discernment about who you allow to influence you? In today’s world we are constantly being influenced with social media and technology. We must be willing to manage who is influencing us. Ask yourself if people are speaking life into you or just saying what you want to hear.
We see that Rehoboam chose to listen to the younger friends and responded harshly to the people. When we don't listen to wisdom, we are making a small problem much bigger. In our walk, not seeking or not listening to wisdom can lead to the possibility of damaged relations, destroying trust, creating a major problem. So, I ask you today before you respond emotionally, consider where your response could lead you. Are you willing to listen to wisdom when told something you don't want to hear? That’s where true growth happens.
Posted in Devotional