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Bad Decisions (When God Doesn't Come First)

There are bad decisions that effect your day. You regret it, like buying tacos from a truck. But you pay the price and you move on.

Then there are the really bad decisions. These might not effect your day, but they change every day after that. This could be likened to getting addicted to truck tacos.

There was a king in Israel who made such a bad decision. His name was Jeroboam and he was handed 10 tribes of Israel to rule when Rehoboam, son of Solomon, made a bad decision.

So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!” ~1 Kings 12:28

Jeroboam wasn't really concerned with the worship of God. He was concerned for himself, thinking that the people would return to Rehoboam when they went to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God. So he decides to throw out worship of God altogether. 

Really. Bad. Idea. 

Not only did J-boam do away with true worship, he did away with true priests, setting up his own friends with new jobs. This pushed the Levites to go down to Judah and serve with Rehoboam. But the real problem was that Israel would turn from God and continue down a road that would not end well. 

Neglecting God = Bad Decisions = Bad Endings

It is not too much trouble to worship God in the way He deserves. The truth of God does not change with what becomes convenient for us. Take the trouble to put God first. You won't regret it. 
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