Rejecting The Advice Of The Elders

II Chronicles 10:13-14 The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders, he followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” 

Rejecting the advice of the elders, he followed the advice of the young men

King Rehoboam was making a very unwise decision. He was forsaking great wealth of wisdom. These men had been Solomon's advisors. They were the ones of whom the Queen of Sheba said, 2 Chronicles 9:7 "Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!" These men also had experience of advising his father, Solomon, some for 40 years! Now, here is Rehoboam.  He rejects the good and wise counsel of the elders. 

Not only that he consults some hot headed men who grew up with him who did not understand godly leadership.

How could a son of Solomon act so foolishly? Pride.

We are living in a day when the advice of the elders is being rejected.

This shows up...

1. In Child Rearing.

I know our parents made mistakes. 

They disciplined as they thought best.

Hebrews 12:9-11 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 

It seems that many in the current generation are rejecting the advice of their elders in raising their children.

There is no reason to throw everything out!

Children need boundaries.

It provides security.

It trains them.

It prepares them for life.

It brings harmony in the home.

It establishes respect for authority.

Things that have impacted children;

* The breakdown of the family

* Blended families

* Technology

* Psychology - influence the way we feel as extremely important

Martin Luther on feelings.

* Mobility, moving far away from parents, grandparents due to economic reasons, affluence is not a substitute for the extended family, even less the weather of a region. 

The family needs prayer now more than ever. Pray for the parents to have wisdom. Pray for children of fractured broken homes. Pray for children to be kept safe from this world.

Rejecting the advice of our elders shows up 

2. In Managing Money

Sad because it will catch up to us as a nation.

Kids have had the concept of savings diminished while spending has gone viral.

Listen to this wonderful wisdom in the Proverbs:

Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. 

Proverbs 22:7b the borrower is slave to the lender. 

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. 

1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 

Common sense about credit is out the window these days save a few people.

We need a big picture. The world has squeezed so many into its own mold about money.

1. Live for the moment.

2. Plastic has taken away the concept of paying for it.

3.We no longer look for what is functional. Impulse buying.

4. We forget about tomorrow.

Rejecting the advice of our elders is seen

3. In Attending Church

Stats

In 2050, the percentage of the U.S. population attending church will be almost half of what it was in 1990.

Be wise.

Keep the things you were taught before you, keep doing what is right and seek to pass them on.

Pray.

Pray.

Pray.

Humble yourself... God sees that.

When Rehoboam humbled himself the LORD heard his prayer and answered it.

That was the Word last week. That is the key to our current situation.

We resist it to our demise.

Adly wanted to speak last week but did not in response to the message. This morning I want him to share.

Rejecting the Advice of the Elders was prideful. Accepting it is humiliating. We need to humble ourselves. It is a long way down  for the American Church to get on the level of the Church in third world countries. We think we have something to give to them until we get there and realize we have much to learn from them.

Faith of our Fathers

Who are our elders today? Many of mine have gone to heaven! I have become an elder to many- pastors now the same age as my kids! 

I Peter 5.1 The Apostles are elders, the prophets... the Word of God is the Word of our elders.

II Chronicles 13.12a

Let's humble ourselves... Pray!