Today's Devotional

November 27, 2002

Subject:  Appreciating The "Old Men"

1Kings 12:6,8 - "And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do you advise that I may answer this people?  But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:" 

Who do you listen to when it comes to godly counsel?  I'm continually amazed at the regularity with which our society shrugs off the counsel of the elders of our day.  According to the bible passage above, perhaps it's always been that way.  However, we must realize that when this occurs, there is always a price to pay for forsaking the godly wisdom that comes with age and experience.  If you read the rest of the chapter, you'll find that because Rehoboam did not listen to the counsel of the older men, the country was at war for years and there was no peace.

Young people today often have a desire to do things their way because they feel like they've seen enough to know and that they've lived enough to know.  At the ripe old age of 40, every day I realize more and more the wisdom of my mother and father and how God uniquely imparts counsel to me through them.  I have a mentor in his 60's who does much the same and I have an assortment of others who are outside of my generation who provide me time-tested insight.

Like Rehoboam, many young people would prefer to listen to those whom they've grown up with because it's merely a reflection of themselves.  Most people would rather listen to their own advice.  Well, you can do that, but while the old people might not be able to use the latest technology and they might not be into the latest fashion trends, they know that the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The wisdom resource that the "old men and women" offer to us everyday is invaluable.  Seek it while it may be found.

Carlen