442. You Got Advice—So Why Was It Still a Bad Decision?

You Got Advice—So Why Was It Still a Bad Decision?

Can you seek advice and still make a terrible decision?

Absolutely.

In 1 Kings 12, two new kings—Rehoboam and Jeroboam—face some of the biggest decisions of their lives. Both seek advice. Both listen to advisors.

And both make disastrous choices that affect generations.

The problem wasn’t simply whether they asked for advice.

The deeper question was: What were they looking for when they asked?

Wisdom—or approval?

God’s direction—or validation for something they had already decided?

In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores the stories of Rehoboam and Jeroboam and shares five practical principles for making better decisions at the major crossroads of life.

Rehoboam received wise counsel from experienced leaders who encouraged him to serve the people. But when he didn’t like their answer, he found younger advisors who told him what he wanted to hear. One pride-driven decision helped split the kingdom of Israel.

Jeroboam made a different mistake. God had already promised to establish his kingdom if he remained faithful. But fear took over. Instead of asking whether his plan honored God, he sought advice about how to execute a decision he had already made—leading to the golden calves at Bethel and Dan and generations of idolatry.

One of the most important lessons is simple:

Something can work and still be wrong.

Effectiveness is not the same thing as faithfulness.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why asking for advice is only the beginning
• How Rehoboam confused advice with approval
• Why the advice you don’t want to hear may be the advice you need
• How Jeroboam used good strategy to accomplish the wrong goal
• Why fear can disguise itself as wisdom
• How greed can sound like “good stewardship”
• Why your heart cannot always be trusted
• How a small number of major decisions determine much of your life
• Why you should seek several perspectives on important decisions
• How to choose advisors whose lives you actually respect
• Why, when both choices are good, choosing growth can be a helpful principle
• How Rob and Pam chose church planting in Tucson over financial opportunity in Oregon
• Why it’s never too late to admit you were wrong and change direction

Rob closes with five principles for better decisions:

1. Seek advice.
2. Ask more than one person.
3. Ask people whose lives you respect and would want to imitate.
4. When both choices are good, consider choosing the path that produces greater spiritual growth.
5. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to change your mind.

Before your next major decision, ask yourself:

Am I really looking for wisdom—or am I looking for permission?

Sometimes the advice you least want to hear is exactly the advice you need.

Learn more about Rob’s books and the podcast at RobSkinner.com.

You can also support the program here.