People came from all over the known world to have the opportunity to speak with Solomon. His advice was nearly priceless. The queen of Sheba honored him in these words found in 1 Kings 10:6-9, “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. Nevertheless I did not believe the reports, until I came and my eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard. How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom.”
This was all a result of a blessing bestowed upon him by God when Solomon became king. He asked God for wisdom to rule his people and bless them. While he was wiser than anyone else on the planet, he didn’t have it all together. In spite of his great wisdom and all the teaching and advice he gave, it seems he failed to give something to his own children that could have changed their lives tremendously.
What does wisdom look like? Its not limited to intelligence. Intelligence is knowledge, and while that’s a worthy quality to obtain, wisdom speaks more to the understanding of decisions. Solomon says this to his son in Proverbs 2:1-2, “My son, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding… (5-6) Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! (9-11) Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.”
Much like many parents today, Solomon told his sons many proverbs and wise sayings. He wanted his sons to learn from his mistakes, he wanted them to think before they made foolish decisions. However, those wise sayings he told his son didn’t automatically guarantee that they would listen. In fact, when his son Rehoboam became king he had to make a decision about how to rule his father’s kingdom.
In 2 Chronicles 10:4-14 we read of this instance; an event that changed the kingdom he inherited forever. The people came to Rehoboam and said, “Your father was a hard master, but if you’ll lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us, then we will be your loyal subjects.” He told them to come back in three days and he’d give them his answer. In the meantime he went to two groups of people: His father’s counselors and his own. Solomon’s counselors said, “If you are good to these people and do your best to please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your loyal subjects.” However Rehoboam’s own counselors said, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I'm going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”
By the third day Rehoboam had made up his mind and followed the advice of the younger, less experienced counselors of his own kingdom. The result was a split kingdom. Often we reject great advice from older more experienced people perhaps because we fail to recognize how their experience can help us.
How about our own life? Do we learn from those that have gone on before us? The legacy those people from older generations leave us is more than money; they leave us experiences that can save us a lot of heartache. How could the story have ended for Rehoboam? We’ll never really know, but consider a decision you’ve had to make recently, could the advice from older generations benefit you?
It’s important to have mentors and counselors to look up to. In the church, God designed it to consist of parents but also elders, people of a spiritual mind that when they share experiences and advice are more valuable than gold. Be sure to thank those people that have helped to shape who you are and for the legacy they’ve left you.
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