WHO ARE YOUR FRIENDS?
(1st Kings 12:1-20).
I read a thread by Yinka Ogunnubi @yinkanubi a few weeks ago.
He wrote on how his house got burnt & how friends & Church rallied round him to get him back on his feet again.
I imagine that happening to me: who will I turn to...?
(1st Kings 12:1-20).
I read a thread by Yinka Ogunnubi @yinkanubi a few weeks ago.
He wrote on how his house got burnt & how friends & Church rallied round him to get him back on his feet again.
I imagine that happening to me: who will I turn to...?
Who can I rely on in times of trouble?
Probably @judefash, @GbengaWemimo & @SOgidigbo.
I don't have many friends.
Maybe 10, thereabouts.
But close friends? Much fewer.
There are dependable friends like Yinka's.
But there are friends that bring you trouble.
Like Rehoboam's...
Probably @judefash, @GbengaWemimo & @SOgidigbo.
I don't have many friends.
Maybe 10, thereabouts.
But close friends? Much fewer.
There are dependable friends like Yinka's.
But there are friends that bring you trouble.
Like Rehoboam's...
King Solomon died.
His son, Rehoboam was crowned king in his stead.
The people asked the new king a favour:
Give us tax relief, Your Majesty!
Reduce VAT!
Your dad stressed us out!
Reduce the stress!
End SARS!
End SWAT!
Open the borders!
Lift the curfew!
Fix hospitals!
His son, Rehoboam was crowned king in his stead.
The people asked the new king a favour:
Give us tax relief, Your Majesty!
Reduce VAT!
Your dad stressed us out!
Reduce the stress!
End SARS!
End SWAT!
Open the borders!
Lift the curfew!
Fix hospitals!
Rehoboam was a young, inexperienced man.
He told the people to come back in 3 days.
He had no idea what to do, so he sought counsel from 2 groups of people:
The old men who rubbed minds with his father (who was recorded as the wisest man that ever lived on this planet)...
He told the people to come back in 3 days.
He had no idea what to do, so he sought counsel from 2 groups of people:
The old men who rubbed minds with his father (who was recorded as the wisest man that ever lived on this planet)...
These old men had koinonia with Solomon, his father.
They had mental intercourse with him.
They has deep discussions that inspired Solomon to write the books of Proverbs & Ecclesiastes.
They were wise men, just not as wise as Solomon. Men of deep tact, integrity & understanding.
They had mental intercourse with him.
They has deep discussions that inspired Solomon to write the books of Proverbs & Ecclesiastes.
They were wise men, just not as wise as Solomon. Men of deep tact, integrity & understanding.
It's instructive to note how Rehoboam approached both parties:
He asked the old men, "how would you advise I answer these folks?" (1st Kings 12:6)
That he felt the need to seek counsel is proof he acknowledged his lack of understanding. He knew he was deficient in governance.
He asked the old men, "how would you advise I answer these folks?" (1st Kings 12:6)
That he felt the need to seek counsel is proof he acknowledged his lack of understanding. He knew he was deficient in governance.
The old men gave their advice.
He then went to the 2nd party: his friends.
These are guys they've been friends since primary school.
They were on the same WhatsApp chat group.
They were groom's men & best men at each other's weddings. Some even married the sisters of others...
He then went to the 2nd party: his friends.
These are guys they've been friends since primary school.
They were on the same WhatsApp chat group.
They were groom's men & best men at each other's weddings. Some even married the sisters of others...
They had grown from friends to in-laws.
Rehoboam felt more comfortable with these guys.
He asked them what to do.
His question was different: "Guys, how do you think we should answer these folks?"
He used the word "WE".
He identified with them.
He believed they had his back...
Rehoboam felt more comfortable with these guys.
He asked them what to do.
His question was different: "Guys, how do you think we should answer these folks?"
He used the word "WE".
He identified with them.
He believed they had his back...
Ironically, their counsel was the exact opposite of what the old men gave!
Rehoboam took his friends' counsel.
He lost the kingdom.
He went from king of Israel to king of Judah.
It's like going down from President to Governor.
Or Governor to Local Government Chairman.
How sad!
Rehoboam took his friends' counsel.
He lost the kingdom.
He went from king of Israel to king of Judah.
It's like going down from President to Governor.
Or Governor to Local Government Chairman.
How sad!
I wonder how the relationship between him & his friends would've panned out after that?
Would he still be in the chat group?
Would he still be close to them?
I imagine some would've been in his cabinet: would he sack them?
Or he'll just take it as a price to pay for friendship?
Would he still be in the chat group?
Would he still be close to them?
I imagine some would've been in his cabinet: would he sack them?
Or he'll just take it as a price to pay for friendship?
Dear reader, who are your friends?
Who do you seek counsel from?
I'm an architect, I won't need advice on a design & consult a lawyer or a doctor.
If a surgeon asks for my advice on a surgical procedure, I'll probably think he's not very intelligent.
What do I know about surgery?
Who do you seek counsel from?
I'm an architect, I won't need advice on a design & consult a lawyer or a doctor.
If a surgeon asks for my advice on a surgical procedure, I'll probably think he's not very intelligent.
What do I know about surgery?
Rehoboam asked people who had no idea about governance for counsel on governance.
It ended in tears.
I remember an event about 25 years ago: my sister was about 21, she was with 4-5 of her friends, all within the same age range.
One had issues with her boyfriend & needed advice.
It ended in tears.
I remember an event about 25 years ago: my sister was about 21, she was with 4-5 of her friends, all within the same age range.
One had issues with her boyfriend & needed advice.
She tabled it before them: what should I do?
I listened to 20-22 year of girls give advice to a 21 year old girl on how to handle relationship issues.
What do they know?
What experience do they have?
What wisdom do they possess?
That was exactly what Rehoboam did...
I listened to 20-22 year of girls give advice to a 21 year old girl on how to handle relationship issues.
What do they know?
What experience do they have?
What wisdom do they possess?
That was exactly what Rehoboam did...
You don't arrogate wisdom to people just because you know them.
You don't arrogate intelligence to people just because they're your friends.
You don't arrogate knowledge to people just because they're your family.
I've learned to meet experts for advice on any issue I face.
You don't arrogate intelligence to people just because they're your friends.
You don't arrogate knowledge to people just because they're your family.
I've learned to meet experts for advice on any issue I face.
May God give us reliable & trustworthy friends who have our backs in times of trouble.
May God grant us wisdom to know their limitations & not burden them with things beyond their ken like Rehoboam did.
And may He also give us the wisdom to know the difference.
Shalom!
😇
May God grant us wisdom to know their limitations & not burden them with things beyond their ken like Rehoboam did.
And may He also give us the wisdom to know the difference.
Shalom!
😇
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