How many times has a father built a great business only to have his children and grandchildren run it into the ground? This has happened numerous times. In the Bible, we see this happening, not with a father’s business, but with the kingdom of God. David served God as a great king, being a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). His son, Solomon, began to follow in his steps when he took over the throne, but then he turned away from God.
1 Kings 11:4 (ESV)
4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
This certainly hurt his ability to rule the way God wanted him to rule and it hurt the kingdom, even if it was not immediately apparent (1 Kings 11:11-13). Then came the rule of his son, Rehoboam, whose ill-advised actions led to the dividing of the kingdom of God (1 Kings 12:1-19). The great kingdom, that God established through His servant David, was torn apart.
What did Rehoboam do that led to the kingdom being divided? He simply listened to bad advice. Regarding how he should treat the people of his kingdom, he rejected the wise counsel of older men, allowing the young men with whom he had grown up to have his ear. He followed their plan and greatly damaged the kingdom.
From the mistake of Rehoboam, we learn how valuable it is to listen to sound advice. As Christians, the advice that we should listen to, first and foremost, is that which comes from God. It is very wise to do so, and incredibly foolish to refuse to do so.
Proverbs 1:32-33 (ESV)
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Who has your ear? Do you reject God’s counsel, listening to the advice that comes from man? Do you rely on your own wisdom over God’s? The only way to succeed spiritually is to listen to God. His Word is a perfect guide for living the best life. Jesus taught this truth plainly in His sermon preached from a mountaintop.
Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Where do we hear the words of Christ? We should all know the answer to this question—His words are found in the Bible. If we are wise, we will allow these words to pave the way for our living in this world. The Psalmist reminds us that the Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). And, the Hebrews writer exhorts us not to harden our hearts when we hear the voice of God.
Let’s all make sure we give God a listening ear. It is far more profitable to listen to Him than to give our ears to the world to fill our minds with bad advice.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.