Creator, Father, King #137

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

KING REHOBOAM FACED A momentous decision. The fate of the kingdom rested in his hands.

After his father, Solomon, died, Rehoboam went to Shechem to be crowned king. But Jeroboam, who had fled from Solomon, returned, and with a delegation from the northern tribes of Israel, he told Rehoboam, “Lighten the harsh labor demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us” (1 Kings 12:4).

Rehoboam told Jeroboam to return in three days for an answer. In the meantime, he sought wisdom—first from an older group of counselors who had served under Solomon. They wisely advised him to meet the people’s request.

Then Rehoboam did something foolish: he conferred with some childhood buddies, who told him to threaten the people with even heavier burdens, just to show them who was boss.

You can imagine how well that went over. Jeroboam and ten tribes rebelled. The nation split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah—never to fully recover.

Apparently, Rehoboam did not read his own dad’s proverb!

What’s It Mean?

Read today’s verse again from the book of Proverbs. It sounds so easy—almost as if it goes without saying. But if it wasn’t worth mentioning, God wouldn’t have included it in Scripture.

Clearly, we do need to hear this important message. If we don’t take it to heart, we can quickly fall into Rehoboam’s trap. He associated with fools and got into big trouble, sparking “constant war” between the tribes of Israel during his lifetime (1 Kings 14:30).

Your choice of friends is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in life. Carefully think about the people in your life: Are they spiritually wise or foolish?

True friends don’t pressure one another into doing things that are completely against God’s laws. Quite the opposite! True friends exhort each other to obey God and grow in their faith. True friends pray with—and for—each other. True friends encourage each other with kind words. True friends put each other first in humility and Christlike love.

Do you have friends like that?

Don’t think you’re immune to the negative influence of bad friends. No one is! As 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (ESV).

Don’t pull a “Rehoboam.” Choose your friends wisely!

Now What?

Read Proverbs 17:17 and 18:24.

Did You Know?

David and Jonathan are a great example of a godly, loyal friendship. You can read their story in 1 Samuel 18–20 and 23:15-18.