Walk with the Wise

One of my neighbors is an incredible resource for me.
If you need a restaurant suggestion, she knows the best place.
If you need to need a certain item, she knows just where to find it.

She is originally from the western part of our state.
My oldest son went to college out there.
She was able to tell him all the places to visit, and the good places to eat.

I have teased her and said that she is like a library to me.
I treasure her expertise and she knows that.

Our culture tends to want what is new and improved.
Our culture dismisses the wisdom of those that have gone before.
Outdated, old fashioned, not relevant…seems to be the reason.

We can learn much from a person who has lived longer and has experienced more.
My aunt used to say that when an elderly person dies, it is like a library has burned down.
We don’t appreciate all that we can learn from those that went before us.

Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king. When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was still king in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon) he returned from Egypt. So they sent for Jeroboam and he and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him, “Your father put a heavey yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” So the people went away. Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants. But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. He asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” The young men who had grown up with him replied, “Tell these people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’ – tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ ” (1 Kings 12:1-11)

If Rehoboam had only listened to the advice of his elders.
He listened to the advice of his peers, who did not have wisdom or experience.
He dismissed the advice or his elders because he thought he knew better.

Outdated, old fashioned, not relevant.

When the people returned three days later, Rehoboam answered them harshly.
He rejected the advice of the elders and followed the advice of his young friends.

This caused a rebellion.
Only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to Rehoboam and the house of David.
All the other tribes followed Jeroboam.

Rehoboam was king over Judah.
Jeroboam was king over Israel.
The kingdom was divided.

There is experiential wisdom and there is Godly wisdom.

Rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:8-10)

It is wise to learn from our elders.
It is wise to glean from their experience.
It is foolish to listen to our peers and not seek Godly counsel.

What older person can be a library to you?
What can you learn from someone who has walked where you are now walking?
Why are you rejecting their advice?

God, in His grace, puts people in our lives to help us press on.
It is our own ego and foolishness that dismisses Godly counsel.
We need to pray for humility to receive advice with a willing and submissive spirit.

God does know best.