Find someone wiser than you and follow their good advice.

1 Kings 11 God to Solomon: “The kingdom will not be ruled by your son.” Solomon to Jeroboam: “I’m promoting you.” The prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam: “You will be the next king of Israel.” Solomon tries to kill Jeroboam…. Jeroboam flees to Egypt…. Solomon dies…. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, became king.

1 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.  2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt.  3 So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him:  4 “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 12:1-5 p. 193-194, The Story

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. 7 They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” 8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” 1 Kings 12:6-11, p. 194, The Story

10 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.  10 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 12:6-11 p. 194, The Story

13 The king answered the people harshly 13 The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders,  14 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 12:13-15 p. 194, The Story

Israel the Northern Kingdom (10 tribes) first king: Jeroboam Judah the Southern Kingdom (2 tribes) first king: Rehoboam

Kings of Israel (Northern Kingdom) Reign Character Jeroboam 22 years Bad 2) Nadab 2 year 3) Baasha 24 years 4) Elah 2 years 5) Zimri 7 days 6) Omri 12 years 7) Ahab 8) Ahaziah 9) Jorem 10) Jehu 28 years King Reign Character 11) Jehoaz 17 years Bad 12) Jehoash 16 years 13) Jeroboam II 41 years 14) Zechariah 6 months 15) Shallum 1 month 16) Menahem 10 years 17) Pekahiah 2 years 18) Pekah 20 years 19) Hoshea 9 years Kings of Israel (Northern Kingdom) Israel lasted 209 years (931 – 722 B.C.) 19 kings: 19 bad, 0 good

Kings of Judah (Southern Kingdom) Reign Character 1) Rehoboam 17 years Bad 2) Abija 3 years 3) Asa 41 yrs Good 4) Jehoshaphat 25 yrs 5) Jerhoram 8 years 6) Ahazia 1 year 7) Athalia 6 years 8) Joash 40 yrs. 9) Amaziah 29 yrs. 10) Uzziah 52 yrs. King Reign Character 11) Jotham 16 years Good 12) Ahaz Bad 13) Hezekiah 29 yrs. 14) Manasseh 55 years Bad/repented 15) Amon 2 years 16) Josiah 31 yrs. 17) Jehoahaz 3 mos. 18) Jehoikim 11 years 19) Jehoiachin 20 Zedekiah Kings of Judah (Southern Kingdom) Judah lasted 345 years (931 – 586 B.C.) 20 kings: 13 bad, 7 good

Find someone wiser than you and follow their good advice.

Find someone wiser than you and follow their good advice. THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR: It takes humility to ask for help and to do what (wise) people say you should do.

Find someone wiser than you and follow their good advice. THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR: It takes humility to ask for help and to do what (wise) people say you should do. Clarification #1: “Lean in” on the advice of wise people, but be discerning.

Find someone wiser than you and follow their good advice. THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR: It takes humility to ask for help and to do what (wise) people say you should do. Clarification #1: “Lean in” on the advice of wise people, but be discerning. Clarification #2: “Do the right thing because it’s the right thing.”

Find someone wiser than you and follow their good advice. THE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR: It takes humility to ask for help and to do what (wise) people say you should do. Clarification #1: “Lean in” on the advice of wise people, but be discerning. Clarification #2: “Do the right thing because it’s the right thing.” Clarification #3: Don’t be overly self-reliant and don’t be proud, but remember that you often have wise advice for yourself – just do what you know is right.

Takeaways Live with humility. It’s a choice. Choose one or two wise people and decide TODAY that you will go to them when you need help and wise advice.