“At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” ...Adonijah was also very handsome...And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king. But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.” vs5-10

Adonijah was wrong. He could have used his zeal and beauty to serve David, yet he treacherously exalted himself. Solomon was promised the kingdom, yet Adonija went against David’s wishes [1 Chron 22:9]. We do this, when we exalt ourselves.

There is One who must reign, our Lord Jesus Christ, and to Him all glory goes.

This is a problem even after we’ve heard the gospel! The flesh in unbelief exalts self, and Christ is lip-served. We render half-hearted service to Him but full throttle service to ourselves!

For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. [Phil 2:21]

We labor to make our names great, and it is an abomination!

Let us honor and serve the Lord Jesus Christ: Let us preach Him so that sinners might be saved, relying upon God. Let us give up self-exaltation and truly serve Christ.

Paul warns us,

“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames.” [1 Cor 3:12-15]

There is only one Foundation, but take heed how you build. If we serve ourselves with the gospel, then we’ll waste our ministry. If we truly serve people, then we’ll see them on the Last Day, rejoicing in Christ. Let’s not waste our lives on wood, hay, or straw, but as much as is in us by the grace of God, let us build for Christ’s glory with precious materials. God can change our hearts and correct us. David never corrected Abijah, but God can transform us by the gospel: He can get to the heart by grace and cleanse us; He can unfold His glory and purge us within.

Secondly, it’s up to God who sits on the throne. Not us. [1 Kings 1:27]

“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? For today he has gone down & sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating & drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?” vs24-27

It is not up to us to behold ourselves and say, “I reign,” but to submit ourselves to Jesus Christ. He says the humble will be exalted. He says faith will receive God’s blessing. Do not exalt your unbelief: Don’t put a blessing where He has cursed [Jer 17:5-8].

He has not exalted the strength of man and the fair show in the flesh. He has not exalted law keeping. He’s given the honor to the one who believes and acknowledges that God is able.

Yet Abraham did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,” [Rom 4:20]

When we have no strength, then He blesses. When we believe, then He saves.

Let us believe, rather than dishonoring God. Let us preach and pray believingly.

Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.” [Matt 9:29]

Finally, submission is the best thing for us: [1 Kings 1:36-37]

“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.” vs36-37

This is faith: it sees God’s will in Christ, and says, “Amen.” It doesn’t argue with God or fight Him; it bows to His ways, because it is good for us.

It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. [Ps 119:71]

It is good to be saved by grace through faith; it is good that faith does good works; it is good to be saved by faith alone that’s not alone; it is good to love each other and spend our lives preaching the gospel; it is good for us to live for someone besides ourselves - to take our gifts and say, “Thanks,” rather than idolizing them.

For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, [1 Tim 4:4]

It is good to serve God by the Holy Spirit.

Oh, we’ve tried all the ways of man, only to have them fail us. We’ve tried unbelief and self-exaltation. We’ve tried sloth, self-seeking, and licentiousness. We’ve tried legalism. Faith, however, receives the blessing, and love is its crown.

And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. [1 John 4:16]

We cannot abide in God’s love and hate our neighbor. Loving others proves our submission to Christ.