A FOOL AT 41!

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

JUNE 11, 2022

TOPIC: A FOOL AT 41!

BY T. O. BANSO

“And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king” (1 Kings 14:21a New King James Version).

Wisdom is not the exclusive preserve of any age group. There are wise adults and there are wise children. There are also old people who act foolishly and young people who behave the same way. Folly or wisdom is not the monopoly of any age group!

It is not difficult to determine if someone is a fool. All you should do is read what the Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, says about the wise and the foolish.

Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, the wisest king that ever lived, didn’t prove that he was a true son of his father in terms of wisdom. Rehoboam, because of his folly, was the last king of a united nation of Israel.

1 Kings 14:21a says, “And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king” (New King James Version). Rehoboam became king at 41 years of age, but he was a fool at 41! He rejected the wise advice of the elders who stood before his father.

These elders had advised him to agree to the request of the people of the Northern tribes of Israel to lighten the harsh labour demands and heavy taxes that his father imposed on them. “And they spoke to him, saying, ‘If you are kind to these people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever’” (2 Chronicles 10:7 New King James Version).

However, Rehoboam took the foolish advice of the young men who had grown up with him. They advised him to increase the people’s suffering. “Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, ‘Thus you should speak to the people who have spoken to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’ — thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’” (2 Chronicles  10:10-11 New King James Version).

Proverbs 23:9 says, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words” (New King James Version). If Rehoboam had listened to the voice of wisdom of the elders to serve the people and speak good words to the Northern tribes of Israel regarding their request, the nation would not have divided under his leadership. The request they made was their condition to continue to serve him. He should have given them a favourable answer.

At 41 years of age, Rehoboam didn’t manifest the wisdom expected of a king whose father was famous for his wisdom. He spoke harshly to the people and they broke away to form the nation of Israel, with the capital in Samaria. Rehoboam was left with only two tribes and Jerusalem.

Whatever your age, status or accomplishment, don’t be a fool! It is foolishness for a leader to oppress his people or followers or promise them more suffering! It is foolish not to listen to wise counsel.

Recognize wisdom in others. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but he still had elders who advised him. The New King James Version says these elders stood before Solomon while he still lived (2 Chronicles 10:6). However, the New Living Translation renders the scripture thus: “Then King Rehoboam discussed the matter with the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon. ‘What is your advice?’ he asked.  ‘How should I answer these people?’” (Chronicles 10:6).

The New Century Version says a similar thing. “King Rehoboam asked the older leaders who had advised Solomon during his lifetime, ‘How do you think I should answer these people?’” The Amplified Bible puts the verse this way: “Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon [as advisers] while he was alive, asking, ‘What advice do you give me in answer to these people?’” 

As wise as Solomon was, he had counsellors or advisers! But Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of his father’s counsellors. He preferred the advice of his young advisers to that of the elders who stood before or advised his father. “But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him” (2 Chronicles 10:8 New King James Version).

Don’t reject wise counsel. What you don’t know, you don’t know! There is safety in counsel. “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety”  (Proverbs 11:14 New King James Version). Similarly, Proverbs 24:6 says, “So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.” (New Living Translation).  

However, you don’t need just any kind of counsellors; you need wise counsellors. That is how two heads can be better than one! “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15 New King James Version).

Rehoboam reigned for 17 years. He was an evil king. During his reign, the people of Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD; they provoked His anger with their sins, which they committed more than that of their ancestors (1 Kings 14:22).

Ecclesiastes 10:1 says, “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor” (New King James Version). Don’t be a fool!

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, deliver me from folly. I shall not be a fool in Jesus’ name. I shall not reject wise counsel or be a victim of foolish counsel. Father, cause me to grow in wisdom. Help those who advise others to give the right advice; let them not lead others astray with wrong counsel.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T.O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

 T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
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Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
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Website: www.cedarministry.org