After King Solomon’s death, the scriptures tell us that his son Rehoboam ascended the throne and was crowned King of Israel. The key leaders of Israel came to Rehoboam and asked him to rule more graciously than his father did and not to put onerous loads upon the people. Rehoboam asked for three days to consider their request and during this time sought the opinion and wise input of the elder statesmen of Israel. This was a wise move but his response to their sound godly advice could hardly be declared as wise.

⁸ But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. ⁹ 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'?" ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.' " ¹² Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, "Come back to me in three days." ¹³ The king answered the people harshly. Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, ¹⁴ he followed the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier... So the king paid no attention to the people’s demands. (1 Kings 12:8-15)

What happened? Rehoboam’s decision to reject the advice of the older men and be wise in his own eyes (Proverbs 3:7a) had dire consequences for his life as the northern tribes of Israel revolted against his rule and leadership. (1 Kings 12:16-20) 

How much better could our leadership be if we were willing to humbly accept the wise input of older God-followers in our lives? While we're called to listen to God rather than man, God often chooses to direct us through the wise counsel of older friends. Who do you seek out for wise counsel at different times in your life?