“Can you hear me Now?”
1st Kings 12:1-15
1.Pray 1st-Reheboam failed to go to God in prayer about the request of his people like his father Solomon and his grandfather David did. This is the 1st and the biggest mistake he made. To often as Christians we treat prayer like the fire extinguisher in the school hallway “In case of emergency break glass”. “in case everything else doesn’t work pray”
As Christians we are to live by faith. Faith means trusting in God even if you might not fully understand how he is going to work it out
Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
This is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me that even if I think I know what I should do rather than rely on worldly wisdom I can go to someone who sees clearer and farther than me. And the answer may come in different ways. It could be a scripture I read that applies to my situation, it could be through hearing that same message confirmed from several sources. If you have ever had an experience were you hear a sermon on the radio, read something that day in your devotions, hear something in a conversation at work that all seem to have to do with what your going through. It’s most likely God trying to get your attention because the spirit is with you he illuminates truth wherever you go. He like a flashlight guiding you down the dark hallway of decision.
John 14:17 (NIV)
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
As Christians we have the advantage of having an advisor on board. The world makes fun of us because of what we believe but they have not experienced the filling of the holy spirit.
2. I like the way that sounds-Reheboam rejected the advice of the elders before he even heard the advice from his friends betraying the fact that he didn’t like their advice and was rather looking for something that he wanted to hear.
I am convinced somewhere in America there is a tribe of people called the yabuts and this tribe spends a lot of time calling in to Psychology shows on the radio like Dr’ Laura to get advice they‘ll say something like “I have been dating this guy for years and he hasn’t decided if he want to marry me yet.” and Dr. Laura will say something like ‘Well if he hasn’t figured out that you’re the one by now why continue wasting your life dating this guy.” and then here it comes. Wait for it……wait for it……Ya But… followed by a long justification of why she can’t leave him. Yabuts have a desire to be heard but are slow to consider the advice they are given.
This unfortunately describes a lot of people, even Christians who tire of hearing the same old things and rather than just obeying and putting into practice what they have heard they look for something new to listen to. They will hop from church to church, from teacher to teacher trying to hear something that will justify their lukewarm Christian life. People that do this are usually not interested in sermons on obedience and holiness. No they are looking for therapy. It is all focused on self.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NIV)
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
You know hat happens when you listen to teachings on obedience over and over and you don’t do anything with what you hear? Your heart becomes calloused, hardened to the truth.
James 1:22-24 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
It think a lot of our problems stem from listening and not doing. Most of our drama and emotional problems would probably be healed if we just spent some times not focusing on ourselves so much and instead volunteering our time to help other people.
3. The elder advantage- A young university graduate crossed a large river on a barge. An elderly, worn, gentleman was driving the barge. The university student asked the old man three questions: 1) “Do you know anything about physics?” “Nope”, replied the old man. “Then 1/3 of your life has been wasted!” 2) “Do you know anything about philosophy?” “Nope”, replied the old man. “Then another 1/3 of your life has been wasted!” 3) “Do you know anything about social sciences?” “Nope”, replied the old man. “Then another 1/3 of your life has been wasted!” Suddenly, the barge hit a large object, took on water rapidly, and overturned. Both men were thrown into the water. The old man cried out to the young student, “Do you know anything about swimming?” The young man replied “No.” “Then your whole life is wasted!” replied the old man.
Reheboam in his pride thinking he knew more than his elders rejected their advice. If your going to take on a position of responsibility especially if you have never done anything like it before you would think it would make sense to surround yourself with experienced counselors. But Reheboam gave all his buddies those he ran with in his youth jobs. He thought, they got my back, they won’t let me down, what do these old guys know anyways. Unfortunately that is an attitude that has plagued youth and young adults throughout history. How many times as parents we try to give advice to teens or young adults and they take the advice of their peers instead. And we watch them learn lessons the hard way. It’s a hard lesson to learn but an important one that as you get older and take on responsibilities in life you need to surround yourself with those who have walked the road before you and are in-tune with the spirit of God.
Patience and listening are key. If we are going to gain wisdom we need to listen to those who have traveled the road before us, especially those who have walked with God for many years.
4. Listening with intention-Reheboam lacked the humility to receive wise council- If you are going to ask for advice you need to have the humility to carry it out. Often council that we receive and don’t want to hear is because it means making hard and uncomfortable decisions. Making changes is never easy. We want to hear I am ok your ok, but we know it isn’t right. Something inside tells us that we have been choosing the path of least resistance and that it’s not the way God wants us to go. When disciplining children knowing they may not like us for a while or changing some habit in our life to better our marriage these changes can sometimes be painful, uncomfortable. But they are necessary.