WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JULY 06, 2026
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. Some older people act foolishly, while some young people do too. 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 before the division of the kingdom.
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). It is often said that a fool at forty is a fool forever. In other words, if someone has not learnt from his past mistakes and gained wisdom by middle age, he will never be wise. 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, leading to the division of the kingdom very early in his reign.
These elders had advised him to agree to the request of the people of the Northern tribes of Israel. They counselled him 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 wisdom of the elders to be kind to the people of the Northern tribes of Israel, to please them, and to speak good words to them, the nation would not have been divided under his leadership. The request they made was the condition they gave 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, consequently, they broke away to form the nation of Israel, with its capital initially in Shechem, later in Tirzah, and eventually in Samaria. Rehoboam was left with only two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) 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 threaten them with more suffering! It is foolish not to listen to wise counsel.
Recognise 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?’” (2 Chronicles 10:6). Note the phrase “the older men who had counseled his father, Solomon.” So, as wise as Solomon was, he still had people (older men) who advised him. Nobody has a monopoly on wisdom.
The New Century Version renders 2 Chronicles 10:6 similarly. “King Rehoboam asked the elders who had advised Solomon during his lifetime, ‘How do you think I should answer these people?’” Again, note the phrase “older leaders who had advised Solomon.” Nobody is so wise that he no longer needs advice. 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?’” Rehoboam’s problem was not that he felt too big to seek advice, but he sought and took advice from the wrong 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 eyes of the LORD; they provoked His anger with their sins, which they committed more than their ancestors had done (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! Rehoboam’s foolishness at the start of his reign prevented him from continuing to reign over all the tribes of Israel.
The Word of God will teach you wisdom; it will cause you to grow and mature. Therefore, study and meditate on the Word of God daily. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of wisdom (Isaiah 11:2; Ephesians 1:17). Fellowshipping with or communion with Him will make you wise (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). God’s wisdom will enable you to view life’s issues from God’s perspective and take the best course of action. You don’t have to be a fool; you can ask God for wisdom, and He will give it to you liberally and without reproach (James 1:5). You can also benefit from the wisdom of others. Don’t be a fool at thirty, forty, forty-one, or any other age.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please 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 heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising 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 invite Jesus 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 must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church 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 900 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.
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