2 Chronicles 10:6
“And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood
before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give
ye me to return answer to this people?”
If one decision can destroy your entire life, the advice you
receive to guide you with your decisions is vitally important. Rehoboam
found himself in the same situation in which many people find
themselves. He received two different types of advice, and discerning
which one was right wasn't easy. Sadly, Rehoboam chose the wrong counsel
which destroyed his kingdom. The counsel wasn't right or wrong because
of the age of the counselors, but it was right and wrong because of the
type of counsel. This story shows five principles that will help you to
discern between wise and foolish counsel.
First, foolish counsel pleases the flesh while wise counsel pleases
God. Rehoboam followed the counsel that sounded good to his flesh. It
sounded good to be rough on the people instead of the counsel that told
him to serve the people. A wise counselor won’t counsel based upon how
it appeases the person, but they counsel based upon how it pleases God.
Be wary of counselors who only tell you what you want to hear. You need
counselors who tell you what God wants you to do, even if it isn't
pleasing to the flesh.
Second, foolish counsel promotes self while wise counsel promotes
service. The young men’s counsel to Rehoboam was all about people
serving the king instead of the king serving the people. Wise counsel
will advise you to be a servant. Avoid self-serving counsel that is
given to make you feel good.
Third, foolish counsel divides what God has put together. The
result of this foolish counsel was that it divided the kingdom. Wise
counsel never leads you astray from what God has joined together. Wise
counsel gives you a way to work out a strained relationship rather than
giving advice to leave it. Wise counsel promotes going to the individual
to resolve your issues rather than avoidance as the key to fixing the
strained relationship.
Fourth, foolish counsel promotes rebellion while wise counsel
promotes submission. The foolish counsel of the young men caused the
nation to rebel against Rehoboam’s authority. Wise counsel will never
pull you away from authority, but it always advises submission to your
authorities. You can easily identify foolish counsel when it’s advice
causes you to rebel against your parent’s, pastor and leadership instead
of submitting. Always remember that God never promotes rebellion.
Fifth, foolish counsel promotes worldly wisdom while wise counsel
promotes scriptural truth. What the young men advised sounded good from a
secular viewpoint, but it was wrong from the scriptural viewpoint. Wise
counsel always takes you to the Scriptures to discern what you should
do. Avoid counselors who advise with man’s philosophies and opinions.
The Scriptures are the source of all wisdom, and they have the answers
to every problem in life. Any advice void of Scripture is wrong advice.
You will always be able to find a scriptural principle that applies to
your situation to help you know whether it is right or wrong.
My friend, be very careful from whom you receive counsel. These
five principles will help you to discern between wise and foolish
counsel.