Bible Reading: 1 Kings 12, 13; Luke 22: 1-24.
“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 King 12:8 (KJV)
No one in life wakes up and decides to nosedive in any aspect of life. Those who have attained high echelons are always willing to maintain and sustain that position while those who are still beneath the ladder are looking forward to that glorious day when there shall be such opportunity. However, it is important to know that keeping that height is not just a function of desire but attitude that one builds or wears in that office and those the occupier of the office surround himself with.
Just immediately after the death of Solomon, the great king in Israel, his son Rehoboam automatically became the king. No sooner than he settled on the throne, the people of Israel and Jeroboam, who had fled to Egypt because his life was threatened came to him to revisit the burden which his father placed upon them. “And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of the king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came and spake unto Rehoboam, saying thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter and we will serve thee” 1 Kings 12: 2-4. The insensitive Rehoboam would have taken into cognizance the latter phrase “…and we will serve thee.” If you are not going to have this downward experience, be sensitive to the comment of your subject.
At the request of the people, the king who had given them three days called the old men who served his father. They gave him counsel to heed (vv.5-7). Not satisfied with what they said, he moved to his peers who wrongly counselled him (vv.8-11) and this spelt his doom (vv.12-15a).
Friends, wage your war with right counsel. There is a saying that what an adult sees while sitting down, if a child stands on the tallest tree, he cannot see it. Do not dig your grave by dancing to valueless counsel, make wisdom personified, Jesus Christ, your bosom friend. May God help you in Jesus name.
Prayer Point: Father, keep arrogance away from my life in Jesus name.
Rev. Julius Oluwole