Someone said on his social media handle that, “It’s so hard to know how valuable your Dad’s advice is…until you can’t get it again.” Another person said, “By the time we realized that our parents were right, we had children who think we are old fashioned. The cycle goes on and on.” Well, by the time Rehoboam knew that the elders were right, he had already lost over three quarters of his kingdom.

People skill entails knowing how to speak…Without it, you can ruin everything that you have built over the years…Those who have their way with words can almost have their way in anything and everyone else.

It was clear that Rehoboam ascended the throne after his father largely due to heredity factor. But it was not so clear if he inherited his father’s wisdom. Rehoboam’s attitude to the people of Israel points to how indiscretion in speech can lead to a ruin. After Solomon’s death, the people came to make a deal with him. They were ready to be his loyal subjects, only they wanted him to shed off some of the heavy burdens put on them by Solomon. Instead of acceding to their request, he answered them roughly and promised them a more burdensome regime than they had known under his predecessor. He lost the kingdom, except the tribe of Judah. People skill entails knowing how to speak. This is a skill-set that all leaders must possess. Without it, you can ruin everything that you have built over the years. It is not in vain that the Bible says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whenever you speak, you are either destroying or building; making enemies or friends. Those who have their way with words can almost have their way in anything and everyone else.