1 Kings 12:6, 8, 13-14 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men…How do you advise?…But he forsook the counsel of the old men, and consulted with the young man….And the king forsook the old men’s counsel, ans spake to them And the king forsook the old men’s counsel, and spake to them after the counsel of the young men.
Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was asked by Jereboam and the people of Israel to lower the taxes and lighten the yoke. He said, “Let me think about it.” He asked the advice of the elders, who had spiritual maturity and wisdom. They answered, “Speak good words to the people.” He forsook their advice.
After rejecting their advice he consulted the young and inexperienced men. They answered, “Increase the taxes and make the yoke heavy,” He followed this bad advice, and ignited rebellion and division in which ten tribes separated and divided the kingdom.
It is a wise and helpful idea in a crisis to ask for the advice of godly men. And then we should listen and follow good advice. But like Rehoboam, we don’t like that advice, and we ask others until we hear what we want. Be humble enough to ask advice, but then be wise enough to follow it. Evaluate advice, whether it is realistic, workable, and consistent with biblical principles. Seek out the wise.