How is it that Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, had such a foolish son? Second Chronicles 10:1-19 shows how Rehoboam, with one terrible decision, ended the line of David's descendants as rulers of Israel. But how did it come to that? Why didn't Solomon, while training others and writing proverbs, teach his son how to be a respected leader?
A similar question may be asked of every parent. What keeps you from giving your children the instruction they need? You have plenty of valuable skills to teach, whether you realize it or not. Think of the skills you apply in your vocation and your professional relationships. Why not apply them for the sake of your family?
You may use multimedia presentations in your vocation. Have you ever used PowerPoint to explain something to your children? You have learned that treating other people's ideas as worthy of consideration is a sign of wisdom in the workplace. Is that any less true in family relationships?
With your loved one, make a list of the skills each of you has learned in how to communicate information, how to lead people in decision-making, how to train people in skills, and so forth. Decide which ones you might use this week with your children.
Take time to pray to thank God for the knowledge, wisdom, and skills He has given you and your loved one. Ask Him to help you work together to pass them along to your children.
Reflect on these questions:
What beneficial skills, abilities, and knowledge do you recognize in your loved one?
What beneficial skills, abilities and knowledge does your loved one see in you?
When is a good teachable time for you to pass along what you know to your children?
Consider these passages for further study on parenting:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk along the road when you lie down, and when you get up.
Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers,[a] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 10:1-19
”Rehoboam went to Shechem, where all the Israelites had gone to make him king. Jeroboam son of Nebat was in Egypt, where he had gone to escape from King Solomon. When Jeroboam heard about Rehoboam being made king, he returned from Egypt. After the people sent for him, he and the people went to Rehoboam and said to him, “Your father forced us to work very hard. Now, make it easier for us, and don’t make us work as he did. Then we will serve you.” Rehoboam answered, “Come back to me in three days.” So the people left. King Rehoboam asked the elders who had advised Solomon during his lifetime, “How do you think I should answer these people?” They answered, “Be kind to these people. If you please them and give them a kind answer, they will serve you always.” But Rehoboam rejected this advice. Instead, he asked the young men who had grown up with him and who served as his advisers. Rehoboam asked them, “What is your advice? How should we answer these people who said, ‘Don’t make us work as hard as your father did’?” The young men who had grown up with him answered, “The people said to you, ‘Your father forced us to work very hard. Now make our work easier.’ You should tell them, ‘My little finger is bigger than my father’s legs. He forced you to work hard, but I will make you work even harder. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have sharp points.’ ” Rehoboam had told the people, “Come back to me in three days.” So after three days Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam. King Rehoboam spoke cruel words to them because he had rejected the advice of the elders. He followed the advice of the young men and said, “My father forced you to work hard, but I will make you work even harder. My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with whips that have sharp points.” So the king did not listen to the people. God caused this to happen so that the Lord could keep the promise he had made to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah, a prophet from Shiloh. When all the Israelites saw that the king refused to listen to them, they said to the king, “We have no share in David! We have no part in the son of Jesse! People of Israel, let’s go to our own homes! Let David’s son rule his people.” So all the Israelites went home. But Rehoboam still ruled over the Israelites who lived in the towns of Judah. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. When Rehoboam sent him to the people, they threw stones at him until he died. But King Rehoboam ran to his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem. Since then, Israel has been against the family of David.“
2 Chronicles 10:1-19 NCV
https://bible.com/bible/105/2ch.10.1-19.NCV
Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. Keep praying you grow together.