We have all heard the expression “young and dumb.” Now before anyone stops reading because it sounds like I’m calling you stupid, I am NOT saying anyone is stupid. The word dumb in this case is referring to a knowledge level and not a mental state. Until we learn something, by definition we are “dumb” in this matter. That’s not a bad thing, and it is not our fault because we haven’t learned it. Now where we go from there is up to us. Do we continue being “dumb” in the area or do we learn from it? The best place to learn information is from people who have already learned that information. We go to school to learn from people who have already learned the information. We learn how to be a mechanic from a seasoned mechanic. The examples are endless.
In 1 Kings 12 we see a story of a young man who has come to the throne. At this time, King Solomon has died, and his son Rehoboam has taken the throne. The people come to the new king and explain that his father, Solomon, was a very harsh ruler and was very hard on them. The people told Rehoboam that if he was not as harsh and did not work them like his father did then the people would serve Rehoboam. Rehoboam asked for three days to respond. During that time, Rehoboam went to the “old men, that stood before Solomon,” (vs 6) to ask their advice. Verse seven tells their response, “And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.” The very next verse is a pivotal point in the history of God’s chosen people, Israel. It said Rehoboam forsook (abandoned) their counsel and went to the “young men that were grown up with him” (vs 8). This decision caused the nation to be split in two. We see in the Bible the consequences of that choice of what counsel he listened to. The northern nation of Israel never had any good kings. The southern nation of Judah had a few good kings, but both kingdoms had many struggles due to being split.
What can we learn from the story? My personal takeaway from the story is to listen to those people who have come before you and have been where you are. My wife and I just got married in June, so we are very new to marriage. If we seek out marital advice, we are not going to go to the couple who have been married for a year or two. We will go to people like Pastor Mutchler and his wife who have been married for over 40 years because that is the marriage we want. I am not discrediting the younger couples, and I am sure that they have things we can learn from them. I just want to get counsel from someone who is where I want to be in the future. The previous generations have so much wisdom from the things they have seen and encountered, but this generation will make a huge mistake if they do not seek advice from those who have had more life experience. For the new parents and parents who have kids still in school, it would be very wise to ask advice from those who have kids that are grown up. Look at those who have a great relationship with their adult children and ask what they did that helped them. Look for the parents who have children living for God and ask how you can teach your child to live for God too. There are so many people with a wealth of wisdom that are just a phone call or text away. The question is, will you ask your peers and those who are in the same life stage as you, or will you ask those who are further down the road and have more wisdom for that stage of life you are in?
Noah Woster
Administrative Assistant