In 1 Kings, Adonijah, son of Haggith, declares himself king, sacrifices a whole bunch of animals at a stone somewhere, and puts Bathsheba and Nathan into a panic. They burst in on David and tell him the news:

“He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king‚Äôs sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.”

(1Kings 1:19 NIV)

Something interesting happens here, that happens a lot of places. Other people look on and see the greatness of Adonijah’s sacrifice and think that the greatness of it gives him authority. Like a degree from Yale costs more so it must have more authority than a degree from IU, or someone drives an Infinity SUV so they must be more successful or more important than someone that drives a 10 year old Honda.

What makes me glad is something from earlier in David’s life:

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.””

(1Sam 16:7 NIV)

Adonijah can go to whatever stone he wants to and sacrifice whatever cattle he wants, but God is not impressed. Adonijah needs to impress men, so they don’t come and kill him or overthrow his little kingdom, but the men who will overthrow him look to God for how they should act. The kingdom isn’t something to be snatched or taken lightly. It isn’t a pot of gold to be argued over.

“He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God‚Äôs sight.”

(Luke 16:15 NIV)

As I sit in the ‘Vegas of the South’ (Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg) eating my ‘Continental Breakfast’ all I can think of is, please, God, help me to only value what you value. May all of my sacrifices be for You alone!

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