Lance Armstrong was on top of the world. He’d won the coveted Tour de France seven times. He’d beaten cancer and had seen his charity, Livestrong, become an acclaimed source of help for cancer patients. But then the walls came tumbling down. It was revealed that Armstrong had led a doping program on his teams during his career. And, just like that, he was stripped of his Tour de France titles, he severed ties with Livestrong, and his name became synonymous with cheating and duplicity.
Adonijah, a son of King David, could relate to Armstrong’s fall. He didn’t want cycling titles but the fame and fortune of being king of Israel (1 Kings 1:5). So he tried to steal the throne with a little help from his friends (1 Kings 1:7).
Denying the sovereignty of God and lacking the humility that truly great leaders possess, Adonijah moved forward with His selfish plan. He did so even as his aged father, King David, was still ruling. Like Lance, however, the prince ended up eating some serious humble pie.
First, David caught wind of his son’s treachery and moved forward with installing Solomon as the next king of Israel (1 Kings 1:32-35). Next, Adonijah’s cronies scurried away from him like rats leaping from a sinking vessel (1 Kings 1:49). Finally, in a pathetic attempt to save his skin, the disgraced prince ran to the sacred tent, grabbed on to the horns of the altar, and pled for his life (1 Kings 1:51). Solomon, showing mercy, did spare it. With words that reflected Adonijah’s humbled position, he simply said, “Go on home” (1 Kings 1:53).
Jesus said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). Humbly—that’s the right way to lead and live.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 22:1-14
More:
Read James 4:10 and consider how you should live out God’s instruction today.
Next:
What areas of your life have you struggled to relinquish to God and His sovereign rule? Why is living a humble life before Him and others the right way for believers in Jesus?
ehdlive on September 3, 2013 at 9:18 am
He who trust in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. – Prov. 28:26
tom felten on September 3, 2013 at 10:22 am
Good word, ehdlive. And it’s so easy to live by our own wisdom and resources. We desperately need to seek God’s!
mike wittmer on September 3, 2013 at 10:03 am
What an apt comparison between Lance and Adonijah. I wonder if they were tempted to cheat because the stakes were so high.
May we practice ruthless integrity in the small stuff so that when faced with big temptation we can gulp and reflexively do what is right. As Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10).
tom felten on September 3, 2013 at 10:27 am
Thanks for adding to the conversation, Mike. Yes, we can think that the “little” things—”white lies,” bending the rules, etc.—don’t matter. But they definitely affect us as they weaken us morally and spiritually.
alli on September 3, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Every little thing matters so easy to think it doesnt God gave me everything i have i cant even keep A friend without Him..i cant even breathe unless He wills it