Then King
Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his
lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.
They
replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a
favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
But
Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men
who had grown up with him and were serving him. 2 Chronicles 10:6-8
Leaders
should listen to people, but they shouldn’t always do what the people tell them
to do. Leaders should listen to moods
and sentiments, pay attention to the news, but also follow a higher road of
wisdom (preferably the Bible). Leaders
should surround themselves with advisers who do the same thing.
Rehoboam
should have listened to the people and his advisers who could sense the
groundswell of rebellion occurring.
Rehoboam made a power grab and failed, losing most of his nation. Leaders must balance all the voices coming
their way and listen to the most trusted ones.
Failure to do so can be tragic.