How does this verse challenge us to discern leadership motives today? Verse under the spotlight “So he conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported Adonijah.” — 1 Kings 1:7 Adonijah’s coalition—what it tells us • Adonijah gathers two seasoned leaders—Joab (military muscle) and Abiathar (spiritual credibility). • Their choice to back him signals more than politics; it unmasks motives of ambition, nostalgia for past influence, and resistance to God’s chosen successor, Solomon (1 Kings 1:17, 29–30). • Scripture never hides flawed motives, reminding us that title or past service does not guarantee present faithfulness. Clues that motives have drifted • Private strategy meetings instead of open consultation with godly voices (cf. Proverbs 15:22). • Appeals to personal history—“We’ve earned this right”—over submission to God’s revealed plan (Numbers 14:4). • Selective alliances: partnering with whoever furthers the cause, even if character is questionable (2 Corinthians 6:14). • Absence of prayer or prophetic confirmation; God’s word is sidelined (Jeremiah 23:16–18). How Scripture trains our discernment • Weigh fruit, not charisma: “By their fruits you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:15–20). • Measure teaching and conduct against the elder qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9. • Remember the heart test: “All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives” (Proverbs 16:2). • Expect servant-heartedness, modeled by Christ who “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Practical safeguards for today • Pray for insight; motives are spiritual matters first (James 1:5). • Examine consistency over time—humility, repentance, accountability structures. • Seek corroboration: do other mature believers, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit’s witness agree? • Refuse to be swayed by flattery, nostalgia, or threats; stand on truth (Ephesians 4:14–15). Our response • Support leaders whose goals align with God’s revealed will, not personal advancement. • Graciously confront or withdraw support when patterns mirror Adonijah’s coalition. • Guard our own hearts from Joab- or Abiathar-like drift; remain loyal to the Lord’s agenda above all (1 Corinthians 10:12). |
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