1 Kings 12

But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. (1Ki 12:8).

Rehoboam was faced with a question from the people. They wanted to know if he would be harder on them or easier on their work load than that of his father Solomon. Rehoboam was not a politician. He ran to the elders for advice. They gave very good advice in telling Rehoboam to serve the people this day, and they will serve back in response. Rehoboam consulted his own friends, the guys he had grown up with. They told Rehoboam to make a statement. They told him to make the people's work load even harder that way they stop complaining. Not good advice.

Friends Friends Friends. It is a fact that if you hang around a certain group of people you become more like them. You cannot help this. In fact we are reminded that, "Bad company corrupts good morales." This verse does not say, "Don't let bad company corrupt." Bad company simply corrupts. Rehoboam had been hanging out with these people all his life, therefore, it only makes sense that he would take advice from them.

Look at Jeroboam at the end of our story. He spends years in Egypt and now he is building alters and idols. Be careful where you spend your time.

Become friends with someone you truly look up to spiritually. Share stuff with them. Learn to take advice from them. Maybe this is someone from church. Maybe this is an elder. Maybe this is your own parents. Either way, build yourself a relationship where you become a custom to taking godly advice. This relationship will prove priceless in later years.