In 1 Kings 12 we read about Rehoboam, Solomon’s son. After Solomon had died, he became king of the southern kingdom, after the nation was torn apart because of the sin of Solomon (1 Kings 1:43). Rehoboam was faced with a request when he first became a king. The people wanted their workload lightened and they promised to serve him. King Rehoboam started off wise (he had a great example of this in is father 1 Kings 3:5-14). He didn’t just quickly answer their request. He said “Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed” (1 Kings 12: 5). He sought advice from the old men who had stood with his father. They said do what they ask, and they will be your servants forever, but Rehoboam didn’t like that answer. He asked his peers and they said make their work harder. Oh how Rehoboam liked that answer. The people came back after three days and he gave them his answer – “And the king answered the people roughly and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (1 Kings 12:13-14).

Rehoboam probably though he has done the right thing, at least in his own eyes. But we are warned about that, “Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7). Sometimes we receive advice that we think is great, but later we come to realize it isn’t that great after all. What has worked for other doesn’t always work for us. I have been a preacher for over 25 years now, but before we got married, I received lots of advice. I was told about the “glass house”, how to be prepared for impromptu guests, have extra food on hand, keep your house tidy, late nights, early mornings, how to handle loneliness, be ready to move a lot, and don’t get too close to members (it saves heartache, if indeed you move). I set out doing everything they had said. I got caught up in trying to be what they were and forgot who I was. 

Listening to the advice of others can sounded reasonable at first, but we must remember that fallible people cannot give infallible advice! While their intentions may be good, it may not be the best course of wisdom to take. We need to first listen to the wisdom of God.

As a minister, God has advised me this way, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching… But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2, 5).

As a husband and father, I have this advice from the Lord, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself…And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 5:28; 6:3). 

As a member of the church, I have this admonition about how to live, “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:15, 16).

While seeking the advice and wisdom from our peers can be a valuable experience, we must always remember, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20, 21).

By: Justin Odom