When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam assumed the throne. Solomon had issued pretty heavy taxes on his people, and so they came to Rehoboam and said that if he would lighten their load, they would all serve him as their king. He asked for a few days to think about it, and when the people came back to hear king Rehoboam’s answer, he said that he was going to make their taxes even harder and punish them with scorpions. Needless to say, that didn’t go over well. The people rebelled and the unified kingdom of Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. (This account is found in 1 Kings 12).
I just can’t imagine what would compel someone to have such a mindset. To completely dismiss the thoughts and concerns of others and focus solely on their own desires.
However, we are told where Rehoboam got this idea. In the three days that he was thinking it over, he consulted with two groups of people. First he talked with the old men, who told him that if he would listen to them and speak kindly to them, the people would follow him forever. But then Rehoboam talked with the young men whom he had grown up with, and they told him to throw his weight around and show those people who’s boss. Two sources were giving Rehoboam two different thoughts. You can guess who he listened to.
We, also, have different ways of thinking proposed to us on a near daily basis. We have the Word of the Lord and we have the word of man. The question for us is, who are we listening to? The Word of God says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4), “Don’t worry about your life; what you will eat, drink, or wear…Seek first the kingdom of Heaven” (Matt 6:25, 33 paraphrased), “Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the Law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). God is counseling you to make Him the very center of your life.
What’s the counsel you hear from the world? What do you see and hear from news, music, movies, social media, etc? It may not be as brash as Rehoboam’s young friends. The message may not be to completely disregard the Lord and live for yourself (although sometimes that is exactly the message). But what subtle messages do you hear that aren’t from God’s Word?
Does your life reflect wise old Words, or does it reflect young popular influencers? (Not to say that everything you see/hear from your friends or media is bad counsel. Advise that is given that is founded in Scripture is good and true counsel because it is ultimately God’s counsel. It’s when people throw out their own ideas that we should see red flags. That’s why we have to thoroughly know God’s Word so that we can discern the difference).
Don’t let your life be split apart. Take a moment and think about what counsel you are listening to and how that is affecting how you live.