# 1 Kings 12 #soap ## Title: Listen to Those Ahead of You ## Scripture: (1 Kings 12:13) “The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men” (NET) ## Observation: Having friends is a MUST in this life. A good friend is hard to come by, so make sure you thank them often. What is even more difficult to have and keep is the wise advice of those who have gone before you. There are many reasons for this, but the truth is the same… we need them. To be sure, we need people who give wise counsel and not those who just love giving opinions. We must cultivate and learn from those who have already been there and done that. Rehoboam rejected wise advice in favor of those who had not been that way yet. They were the same age as him, so they could only tell him what he already knew. The results were catastrophic. ## Application: Cultivate relationships with those who are ahead of you. Who can you also cultivate a relationship with that is behind you? ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for leading us to the right people at the right time.