Heeding the Advice of Elder Christians

—Our weekly article in the Northport Gazette and the West Alabama Gazette:

Watering the Tulips


“Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, saying, “How do you advise me to answer these people?…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”I Chronicles 10:6,8

There is much to be learned from this passage today.  God has given us a blessed truth that is ignored in most churches today.  I see assemblies that are being run by the young believers; churches that are controlled by those with little experience.  Maturity has given way to immaturity and experience to inexperience.  Is there any doubt that this is why so many have given up the truth for fables (II Timothy 4:4)?

God has said that we need to seek the “old paths” (Jeremiah 6:16).  We can’t ask the young for the old paths because they did not tread on them.  A generation has taken over that believes we should grow at all costs.  Many believe the worldly methods employed by them to “reach the lost” are working because they are “growing”.  A wise man once said, “If you use worldly methods, you will draw in the world.”  This proverb has been proven by many of today’s largest congregations.  Many judge themselves to be “rich” and “wealthy” and do not know that they are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).

Often churches find themselves growing in numbers, but losing ground financially.  Why is this?  A generation has arisen that believes churches are funded by bake sales and garage sales.  However, this is not God’s way of funding the church.  God set up the tithe to fund His house.  Many today don’t understand the importance of sacrificing for the Lord.  Health and wealth is the “gospel” of the day.  So, many keep their funds to themselves and wait for somebody else to pay.  And who does?  The elders in the church, in most instances.

Rehoboam didn’t heed the advice of the elders and he split the nation of Israel in half.  Throughout the rest of the Old Testament, the nation remained divided.  The same thing is happening today.  Churches are being split by trying to please the youth.  Programs to keep them involved are being introduced because God’s Word is not enough to keep them.  What a sad state Christendom is in!!

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders” (I Peter 5:5).  They are the ones that God used to build the church.  They are the ones that were there when the foundations were poured.  They are the ones that sacrificed.  They are the ones that knew the truth.  They are the ones that understood that the Gospel was sufficient without all of these added impurities.  Seek their advice.  Ask for their counsel.  Beg for their help.  They are more experienced than you are.

Thank the Lord today for faithful brothers and sisters in Christ that made the way before us.



Verse of the Day
