1 Kings 12-16
Psalm 59

Some of my favorite parts of the month come when I get to meet with my mentors. Mentors are people who have experience that you don’t have and can speak truth, are trustworthy, and give guidance in your life.

Each of my mentors gives advice and wisdom in different areas: A guy named Brady helps me grow as a leader and asks tough questions. A longtime teacher, Brian guides me as someone who works at a church serving families and students. There’s Toran, who presses in on what the Gospel of Christ means for my life. And John is a mentor that challenges me as a father trying to serve his family well.

Each of them has an important voice in my life. I trust them with my questions, my insecurities, my victories and even my failures. If something is causing me confusion or I need direction, I know exactly where to turn and who to talk to. They give great advice and speak with wisdom that is centered in God’s Word.

Who is someone you trust to give you good advice in your life?

After King Solomon died, it was time for his son, Rehoboam, to take over as King. When Rehoboam started as king, he had a little problem on his hand: frustrated people in the kingdom. They were upset with the hard work the previous king, Solomon, had demanded of them, including building the temple. They wanted life to be different from the way it had been in the past. And who could blame them? Hard work is… well, hard work. 

Rehoboam wasn’t sure what to do, so he went looking for advice. His first stop were the elders who served under Solomon and loved the Lord. Their advice was wise: “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them, they will always be your servants.” (1 Kings 12) They encouraged Rehoboam to put in some hard work and lead these people by serving them. This advice was well known for new kings during this time: serve the people and gain their trust! 

But Rehoboam didn’t like this idea. Why should he have to put in the hard work? He’s the King! So he didn’t listen to this wisdom and instead found advice from another place: his best buddies who only told him what he wanted to hear. Their advice was to tell the people to stop complaining or you’ll make them work even harder. 

Rehoboam did just that, choosing what was best for him, and it literally split the nation of Israel in two! 

Solomon’s wisdom really stands out here: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)

Have you ever ignored someone’s advice because it wasn’t exactly what you wanted to hear? 

Have you ever ignored God’s instruction because it wasn’t what you wanted to do?

Listening to wise council, or good advice, can sometimes be very difficult to do. Sometimes the right thing to do isn’t always what we want to do. But it is so important to listen to the wise words of mentors, parents, and especially God! Why? Because those who have proven to be trustworthy in our lives often speak with our best interest in mind. They want what’s best for you! 

God’s guidance in His Word is no different. It is given so that we can live our best possible life, connected to God and following his commands, but we need to listen to and follow what He says. 

I want to remind you of a familiar verse: “Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) If you’re in a dark place or just aren’t sure what to do in some specific situation, seek the wisest words, council and guidance you can find: go straight to God’s Word to know what to do and listen to what it says!