2 Samuel 18:9,16-17, "Now Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's hair got caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going. ... Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel, for Joab halted them. They took Absalom, threw him into a big pit in the forest and piled up a large heap of rocks over him..."

Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Think

Has a stylist ever talked you into making radical changes to the cut or color of your hair? And, at the end of the appointment, you stared into the mirror, mouth agape, thinking, "Oh, no! What have I done?" If not, congratulations! But chances are, you have had a bad hair day - those days that, no matter what you do, your hair has a mind of its own. Nonetheless, if you're alive and reading this, you'll never have as bad of a hair day as Absalom!

As we've learned this week, Absalom was a mirror's best friend. He had long, thick, flowing locks that, when cut, weighed five pounds! But as the saying goes, "Pretty is as pretty does," and as handsome as Absalom was externally, he was ugly on the inside.

Absalom's conceit and desire to usurp his father, King David's, authority blinded him.  As he hung by his hair from a tree, suspended between heaven and earth, surely he rethought his actions. He wished he hadn't listened to his advisors. But it was too late! His enemies found him and killed him with javelins. And, instead of being laid to rest in a beautiful mausoleum, they threw his body into an unmarked grave.

We don't wake up one day and decide to live a life marked by bad decisions. It's a slow process that happens when selfish ambition keeps us from differentiating between godly wisdom and bad advice. Are you surrounding yourself with the right people? People with a proven track record, maturity in Christ, and the courage to be honest with you? People who will save you from a bad hair day?

Act

Do an assessment of your closest friends. Are you surrounding yourself with people who will point you back to Christ? If not, reach out to someone today who demonstrates godly character. For more detailed information about developing the right relationships, check out the book Fifty Shades of THEY by our Pastor, Ed Young!

Pray

God, Thank You for the gift of wisdom. Help me surround myself with the right people who can help guide my decision-making. And, help me be that same friend to others. Amen.