In what ways can we avoid Rehoboam's mistakes in our spiritual lives? Setting the Scene “King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and committed them to the care of the commanders of the guards on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.” (2 Chronicles 12:10) Solomon’s son once flaunted gold shields—symbols of God-given glory. After Shishak carried them off, Rehoboam settled for bronze. The downgrade mirrored the spiritual slide already underway (2 Chronicles 12:1). His story invites us to guard against trading the richness of wholehearted obedience for cheaper substitutes. Spotting Rehoboam’s Mistakes • Forsaking God’s law once he “had established his sovereignty” (12:1) • Ignoring seasoned, godly counsel (2 Chronicles 10:6–8) • Letting pride harden his heart until crisis struck (12:6) • Relying on appearances—bronze shields looked shiny enough, but they were not gold (12:10) Guarding Our Hearts from Spiritual Downgrades 1. Keep first love first. – Revelation 2:4–5 urges us to remember, repent, and do the works we did at first. – Daily devotion protects us from drifting once life feels “established.” 2. Treasure God’s Word above convenience. – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). – Regular reading, memorizing, and obeying keep us from settling for bronze. Choosing Gold over Bronze in Daily Decisions Ask, “Is this choice motivated by wholehearted love for Christ or by image-management?” • Serving for recognition?—bronze. • Serving quietly “for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23)?—gold. • Cutting corners in integrity?—bronze. • Walking blamelessly even when nobody sees (Proverbs 11:3)?—gold. Leaning on Godly Counsel • Proverbs 15:22: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” • Seek mentors who fear the Lord, not echo chambers that rubber-stamp our wishes. • Weigh advice against Scripture; the Spirit never contradicts His Word. Cultivating Humility and Repentance • “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). • Practice quick confession (1 John 1:9). A soft heart prevents a hard fall. • Invite accountability; humility grows in honest community. Living with an Undivided Heart • Psalm 86:11: “Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.” • Regularly evaluate motives: Are we guarding the palace entrance with bronze, or are we pursuing the Lord’s glory in gold? • Trust God to restore what compromise has stolen (Joel 2:25). His grace can replace bronze substitutions with lasting splendor as we walk faithfully before Him. |
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