Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Monday February 23 2026
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Proverbs 3:5-6-Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
How can we make wise decisions when faced with difficulties in life?
When Rehoboam became king of Israel, had to make some important decisions. The people asked him to provide relief from their labor. His father, Solomon, had been very demanding in their work demands and expectations, so they really needed a break!
From the account that follows, we can learn quite a bit about how to make wise decisions in life.
1 Kings 12:6-19 (ERV)-There were some older men who had helped Solomon make decisions when he was alive. So King Rehoboam asked these men what he should do. He said, “How do you think I should answer the people?” 7 They answered, “If you are like a servant to them today, they will sincerely serve you. If you speak kindly to them, they will always work for you.” 8 But Rehoboam did not listen to the advice from the older men. He asked the young men who were his friends. 9 Rehoboam asked them, “The people said, ‘Give us easier work than your father gave us.’ How do you think I should answer them? What should I tell them?” 10 Then the young men who grew up with him answered, “Those people came to you and said, ‘Your father forced us to work very hard. Now make our work easier.’ So you should tell them, ‘My little finger is stronger than my father’s whole body. 11 My father forced you to work hard, but I will make you work much harder! My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with whips that have sharp metal tips.'” 12 Three days later, Jeroboam and all the people came back as Rehoboam had said. 13 King Rehoboam did not listen to the advice from the older men, and he was rude to the people. 14 He did what his friends told him to do and said, “My father forced you to work hard, but I will make you work much harder! My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with whips that have sharp metal tips.” 15 So the king did not do what the people wanted. The LORD caused this to happen. He did this in order to keep the promise he made to Jeroboam son of Nebat when he sent the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh to speak to him. 16 The Israelites saw that the new king refused to listen to them, so they said to him, “We are not part of David’s family are we? We don’t get any of Jesse’s land, do we? So, people of Israel, let’s go home and let David’s son rule his own people!” So the Israelites went home. 17 But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 A man named Adoniram was one of the men who directed the workers. King Rehoboam sent Adoniram to talk to the people, but the Israelites threw stones at him until he died. King Rehoboam ran to his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the family of David, and this is how things are even today.
Let’s study.
First, notice a mistake that Rehoboam made at the very beginning of this whole situation: he did not begin by seeking the counsel of God. One sure method of getting into trouble and making bad decisions is by neglecting to consult God and His Word first in our circumstances.
Psalm 119:24-Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.
James 1:5-If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Rehoboam’s decisions actually follow a pattern that we see with his father. Solomon was the wisest man in the world for a time, but then he rebelled against God, refusing His Word in favor of foreign wives and wicked gods and goddesses (1 Kings 11:1-13). Sadly, Solomon often set a bad precedent for his children in these ways.
Do we seek God’s Word when we make decisions?
Do we pray and ask God for His guidance when we are uncertain what to do?
Second, making wise decisions will also involve seeking counsel of others. In this regard, at least, Rehoboam acted wisely.
Proverbs 11:14-Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Proverbs 12:15-The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 15:22-Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
Proverbs 24:6-For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
Wise decision making involves the process of seeking advice of others. However, we see here that Rehoboam made a serious mistake in seeking and then heeding bad advice. It is dangerous to seek advice from untrustworthy sources!
Psalm 1:1-2-Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
There is much to be said about seeking the wisdom of godly men and women who are older then us. They have gained much of their wisdom through experiences that we perhaps don’t know that they have endured in their life.
Just recently, I was reminded of these truths.
Some years back, another church that I worked with helped some folks who had dealings with some very dangerous people involved in the illegal distribution of drugs. Cars from out of state began following us, we found ourselves under surveillance, and one even tried to run me off the road on a dark night. That driver later got arrested and bragged to the inmates about trying to kill me that night, and (according to one young man that I baptized in jail ministry) had promised that when he got out of jail, he was going to come back and “finish the job.” To compound matters, I was unable to turn to the local law enforcement because we had reason to distrust them in this particular situation.
Just a few days back, a good friend of mine asked me how we dealt with all that.
I told her that I remembered some advice that my father had given me involving another sticky situation: “Either you tell no one what is going on, or you tell everyone.” What he meant was that there is definitely a time to keep your mouth shut, but that there are also times when you are compelled to speak out (as a Christian and Gospel preacher). You must do it to such a degree that “they” will not dare kill you, lest they in trying to silence you inadvertently give you a bigger platform to reveal their wickedness. Those who love evil enjoy the darkness and will often run to it and away from the light (John 3:19). So expose the darkness with the light (Ephesians 5:11)! He also counseled me to make sure that I keep confidential information confidential, which I also did.
So, I emphasized in my preaching during that season that Christians preach God’s Word in extending repentance and salvation for all (including drug dealers who will turn to the Lord), but that we also will stand against those who in unrepentant fashion continue to “peddle their poison” and kill millions every year.
Thankfully, my Dad’s wise counsel prevailed: that family is alive and well, and through it all we were blessed to survive and continue ministering. Those drug dealers have also been brought to scrutiny and the Lord will deal with them in His way and time.
All of this to say: there is great value in learning from the wisdom of those who are older then us.
Rehoboam should have listened to God, and he should have listened to the wise counsel of his father’s advisors.
Are we willing to seek the advice of God’s people?
Will we choose godly advice from those who are older?
Third, we have a glimpse of the art of making good decisions when we look at the motivations of the path that we would choose. Consider that Rehoboam was offended at the idea of being a servant to the people. It was when he heard this admonition-that he was a servant to the people-
that Rehoboam rejected their counsel.
After all, he was a king, wasn’t he?!
Why should he be a servant to the people?!
They should be serving him, not the other way around!
Solomon’s son forgot what so many have also through the years: greatness is found in serving, not in being served.
When we are faced with a difficult decision, we would be wise to examine the motivations of our heart.
James 4:3 (Amplified)-[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
Finally, Rehoboam chose harshness over kindness. He displayed a complete lack of empathy for the good and hardships of others. He was not concerned with how his decision would impact the welfare of other people.
As Christians, we must be willing to consider how our decisions will potentially affect the wellbeing of those around us.
Galatians 6:1-2-Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
How will the choices that I make affect others?
Will my decision be a blessing to them, or will it make their life more difficult?
Everything in Rehoboam shows that he was a rebellious young man who did not seek the Lord. As a result, he made some very bad decisions. Of course, we have no room to criticize him too harshly, since we have all made bad decisions at times.
The question is: will we choose to learn from this example and make wiser decisions going forward?
Lord, grant us wisdom in making good decisions. Amen.