King David’s son, Solomon, stewarded abundant wealth with great wisdom. But what of David’s grandson, Rehoboam?
By the third generation of King David’s line, not only the wealth but the values of the family had been lost.
What went wrong?
Solomon loved women. As he grew older, his attention shifted increasingly to his wives. He adopted their culture and religion and rejected the God of his father, David. As a result, war came upon the land, and Solomon spent the rest of his life fighting adversaries at home and abroad.
Rehoboam inherited the kingdom at the age of 41. He celebrated prostitution and idol worship, and in his fifth year as king, an attacking nation came and plundered the wealth of the kingdom.
What can we learn from David’s family legacy?
One principle we can take away is the importance of finishing well. Solomon walked in wisdom but lost focus in the end. Rather than actively preparing his son to reign, he pursued pleasure and was forced to spend his last days protecting the kingdom from foreign invasion and domestic rebellion.
Ignoring this principle has obvious downside. But what about the upside? Part of finishing well includes empowering the next generation. Doing so sets them on a firm foundation with a path to flourish and bless others. The sacrifice of time and energy spent preparing the next generation produces abundant fruit that far outlives the life of any one individual.
One way to empower the next generation is to share stories of how the family overcame in times of adversity and handled success in times of abundance. Here are some questions to consider:
How do you empower the next generation of leaders in your family? We’d love to hear your thoughts!