READING: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, 1 Kings 12:1-20, 2 Chronicles 10:1-19, 1 Kings 12:21-24, 2 Chronicles 11:1-4, 1 Kings 12:25-35, 2 Chronicles 11:5-17
I shudder to think of what I was like as a young church leader. I was fairly certain I knew all I need to know. I probably believed I could speak well enough that others would always listen to me. I viewed myself as a new voice in the wilderness, called of God to speak truth into people’s lives—and it didn’t matter so much how I did it. I painfully and embarrassingly now recall times when I confronted older church leaders—men much, much wiser than I and much, much more godly than I—convinced I was to guide them. Only grace, I’m sure, kept God from removing me from ministry because of my arrogance.
That’s how I read the guidance of the young leaders around King Rehoboam in today’s reading. The king had heard the request of Jeroboam to lighten the load of the people, and he sought advice from two groups. The older, wiser men encouraged him to offer leniency, to extend a hand toward the people. The younger men, though, encouraged him to be even more harsh toward the people to keep them in subjection. They were not nearly as wise as the older men, but Rehoboam chose to follow the latter group.
Today, here’s what I know: no matter how old I get, there’s always going to be a little of that brash young man in me – which means I always, always need to listen to older, wiser brothers.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Do you listen most to younger or older leaders today?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, give me wise counselors. Then, give me the wisdom to listen to them.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 13:1-14:24, 2 Chronicles 12:13-14, 2 Chronicles 11:18-23, 2 Chronicles 12:1-12, 1 Kings 14:25-28, 2 Chronicles 12:15-16, 1 Kings 14:29-15:5, 2 Chronicles 13:1-22, 1 Kings 15:6-8, 2 Chronicles 14:1-8, 1 Kings 15:9-15, 1 Kings 14:19-20, 1 Kings 15:25-34, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15:19
