Have you ever been in a situation where you had to make a big decision and didn’t know what to do? Maybe it was something as simple as deciding who to sit with at lunch on the first day of school, or something more serious—like choosing whether to follow a crowd that might not have your best interests at heart. The truth is, life is full of moments where we have to make choices, and sometimes, the voices around us can shape those choices for better or worse.
This brings us to a lesson from 2 Chronicles 9 and 10 about a young man named Rehoboam—Solomon’s son. Now, Solomon wasn’t just any king. He was the wisest man who ever lived (aside from Jesus). He built a glorious kingdom, made Israel a powerful nation, and left behind Proverbs filled with wisdom on how to live a successful life. But here’s the kicker—just because Solomon was wise didn’t mean his son was.
When Solomon died, Rehoboam took the throne, and right away, the people came to him with a request:
“Your father was a hard master. Lighten the heavy labor and taxes, and we will serve you faithfully.”
Seems like a reasonable request, right? This was Rehoboam’s first real test as king, a moment to set the tone for his leadership. So ,what did he do? At first, he made a smart move—he told them to come back in three days so he could think it over. That’s actually a great lesson right there: when faced with a big decision, don’t rush it. Give yourself time to think.
Two Different Types of Advice
Rehoboam decided to get counsel, but who he listened to made all the difference.
- The Wise Counselors – These were the older men who had advised his father, Solomon. They told him, “If you are good to these people and serve them, they will always be loyal to you.” In other words, if you treat people well, they’ll respect and follow you. Solid advice, right?
- His Friends – Instead of taking that wisdom, Rehoboam turned to his friends, the guys he had grown up with—the ones who had never worked a day in their lives. They told him, “You need to show them who’s boss! Tell them, ‘If you thought my father was tough, wait until you see me! He used whips, but I’ll use scorpions!’” Basically, they told him to flex his power and be a tyrant.
Who You Listen To Matters
Now, let’s pause for a second. Why in the world would Rehoboam think his friends—guys who had no leadership experience, no wisdom, and no real perspective—would have better advice than men who had served under the wisest king in history? Simple. He wanted to hear what he wanted to hear.
That ever happen to you? You ask one person for advice, but you don’t like what they say, so you go ask someone else—until you find someone who tells you what you wanted to hear all along? Yeah, that’s exactly what Rehoboam did.
So, three days later, the people came back for an answer, and instead of listening to wisdom, he followed his friends’ advice. He told the people he was going to be even harsher than his father.
Big mistake.
The kingdom split in two almost immediately. Ten of the twelve tribes revolted, and just like that, Rehoboam lost the majority of his kingdom. His arrogance and foolishness cost him nearly everything.
The Dangers of Bad Advice
This story reminds me of something my drill instructor used to say in the Marines: “If you want to be successful, look at the people ahead of you—not the ones standing next to you.”
Who we take advice from matters. Rehoboam could have built a strong, unified kingdom, but he chose to listen to people who had no real wisdom. Who you surround yourself with will shape your future.
Proverbs 13:20 says:
“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”
Think about that for a second. If you hang around people who make wise choices, you’re going to pick up on those habits. But if you surround yourself with people who are reckless, who don’t think things through, or who just want to stir up drama—you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Applying This to Life
Right now, some of you are getting ready to start a new school year, a new job, or a new season in life. You’re about to be in new environments, meet new people, and face new challenges.
You’re going to have moments where you have to make decisions—who to hang out with, how to respond to peer pressure, how to handle responsibilities, and even how to treat people in positions of authority.
And in those moments, you’ll have different voices speaking into your life.
- Some will give wise advice that’s rooted in experience and godly wisdom.
- Others will tell you what feels good in the moment but could lead to long-term regret.
So here’s my challenge to you: Be careful who you take advice from.
Ask yourself:
- Does this person have experience in what they’re advising me on?
- Are they giving advice that lines up with wisdom and God’s word?
- Do they have my best interests at heart, or are they pushing their own agenda?
Rehoboam had every opportunity to succeed. He had access to some of the greatest wisdom in history. But he rejected it and followed bad advice, which led to disaster.
Don’t make the same mistake.
Instead, seek wise counsel. Surround yourself with people who will push you toward success, not destruction. And most importantly—seek God’s wisdom first.
Because at the end of the day, the people you listen to will shape the life you build.
Choose wisely.
