Listen to Advice

Bible Text: 1 Kings 12:1-24

In our everyday life we seek advice. To be able to make a good decision we seek a second or even third opinion on matters. It is wise to do so. But in the case where we listen to wrong counsel and act on it, such counsel is no counsel at all.

King Rehoboam who now ruled Israel after his father, King Solomon's death, failed to listen to good counsel in ruling his people.

The Israelites requested that the heavy yoke King Solomon had put on them in order to build the Temple and his palace, be lightened. “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” (1 Kings 12:4)

He sought counsel from the elders that had served his father. However he rejected this advice and went in for his peers' advice. Their counsel was no counsel at all. He rejected the good counsel of the elders and heeded to the advice of his peers. The young men who had grown up with him replied, “These people have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter.’ Now tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’” (1 Kings 12:10-11). He went ahead and gave this reply to the Israelites, this led to Rehoboam being rejected as King by the Israelites.

It is not enough to seek counsel but seeking such counsel from the right people. We have to keep a good company. The adage goes: Show me your friends and I will tell you your character. When we keep a bad company like Rehoboam did, in the day that we need counsel, we will definitely get a bad counsel. Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I commit my life in your hands. In all I do, help me to seek and heed to good advice. May I always be found in good company and also give good counsel to others. 

And unto Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ever ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen!