When you come to the root of any sin, it comes down to one or a combination of three things: selfishness, pride, and/or fear. In the first chapter of 1 Kings, we read the story of a man who would exalt himself to be king. Every person, in one way or another, is tempted to take things for ourselves so that our will is accomplished. Every one of us struggles with the pride of my will and my glory, the selfishness of taking things for myself on my own terms, and the fear of not having or losing the things that we strive for which causes us to act in a way that is utterly self-serving so that our best interests will be protected. What a horrible way to live.
David’s son Adonijah followed his brother Absalom’s lead in rebellion and self-aggrandizement. David is now advanced in years and the time has come for him to name a successor. He has already promise the throne to Solomon, but Adonijah sees things differently—he thinks that he should be king, and he is going to see to it that this happens. He sways the hearts of some of the most prominent people in David’s administration (ie. the captain of David’s army, etc) to follow him as he announces himself king without David’s knowing. Interestingly enough, none of the spiritual leaders of David’s kingdom were invited to this self-coronation. There are a few things I would like to point out in this story that point to the sinful nature in all of us and the tendencies that we have to live life on our own terms. I want to ask that you read this next section with an open heart before the Lord asking Him if there is any trace of this in your life.
The first is that Adonijah never received correction. David made a grave mistake with his son by never correcting him. Yet at the end of the story, we see that Adonijah is unable to except correction anyways. Even after he is dethroned, he is still scheming and it cost him his life. God corrects us in order to save us from ourselves. When you hear a word of correction from Him, take it! The second is that Adonijah decides to be king on his own. Things never go well when we decide we are ready to be something or someone that God has never called us to be. Usually it involves a place of prominence. When we seek fame, greatness, riches, notoriety, or a place of status, what is the motive with which we do it? Adonijah’s motive was completely prideful and self-serving. The third is that Adonijah refused to invite Solomon and the spiritual leaders of David’s kingdom. Selfish pride never wants God’s opinion, submission to God-given authority, or any sort of rival or accountability. It is all about ME. When it is all about ME, then God’s opinion and God-given authority’s opinion are meaningless. When I decide I am king, then MY word is final. Isn’t that just like our sinful nature? Maybe we would say, “I would never do that,” but the attitude that Adonijah exhibited finds its way into our lives very subtly. Maybe we don’t want to be the king of the world, but maybe the kind of MY world, MY ministry, MY job, etc. In God’s Kingdom, God alone is King and we serve Him. Every area of our lives is submitted to HIS Lordship, and there is nothing that we should count so dear that we must hang on to our own petty little kingdoms in selfishness, pride, and fear. It will end up costing us everything. When God is King, He will end up giving us everything.
Pastor Kyle Bauer
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