Building One Another

COUNSEL Vol 8 No 32

August 25, 2009

Dear Friend,

 If your Mom or Dad were very wise but no longer around and you faced a major decision, would you heed the counsel of the people who counseled your parents or the counsel of your best buddies?

When the incredibly wise King Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king and immediately was faced with the question of whether or not to relax the demands on the Israelites.

Rehoboam first went to his father’s wise counselors. “They answered him, ‘If you will be kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.’” 2 Chronicles 10:7*

Then he went to his buddies and they counseled Rehoboam to say, “Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke.  My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”  2 Chronicles 10:11

Guess which set of counselors he listened to?  You got it – his buddies – and the Israelites rebelled and Rehoboam’s kingdom was divided.  Obviously his buddies told him what he already wanted to hear.

Two things jump out here:

When you face a major decision, are you genuinely open to counsel that may not be your preferred course of action?

Are your counselors truly wise? They may be your buddies or others.

“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.”  Proverbs 12:15

With joy - E. Stanley Ott                               

Copyright 2009 E. Stanley Ott     

*Scripture from the NRSV