The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
1 Kings 12:13-14
A kingdom will fall when you seek wisdom from a fool.
Solomon‘s son, Rehoboam, became king in place of his father. Soon after taking the throne the people began to complain, so Rehoboam took their complaints to the wisemen that served his father Solomon. These men recommended he serve his people well now and they would serve him well all their life. But Rehoboam wasn’t satisfied. He didn’t hear what he wanted to hear, so he went to his friends instead. Rehoboam‘s friends told him to deal with the people harshly, to make sure they knew he was even stronger than his father, that he was in control. These friends were foolish, and Rehoboam was made a fool for taking their advice. From their advice the kingdom was split and eventually a kingdom against itself would fall.
It is so easy for us to look for wisdom in the wrong places. When we go seeking wisdom yet won’t except any until it aligns with what we want, it isn’t wisdom at all. Wisdom is gained from learning, attaining knowledge through experience and good judgment or the experience and good judgment of wise counsel.
Often times wisdom isn’t going to be the advice that were seeking but the truth that we are needing to lead a life that is worthy of our calling.
Like Rehoboam, we want to hear what we are hoping to hear, and many friends will tell us just that. But true wisdom comes from one more knowledgeable, that’s been around longer, experienced more life, and sought after God for truth. Sometimes, this is a TRUE friend that is willing to tell us truth even if we don’t like what the truth is, but more often it is a parent, mentor, pastor, leader, teacher, etc. And you will know it’s wisdom if it aligns with God’s word and not the worlds. It gets you thinking.
Do you have something you are struggling with right now? Do you need wisdom to lead you? Are you ready for the truth? Seek advice from someone more wise, from someone who seeks the Lord and is willing to speak truth into you.
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs 19:20
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