Everyone Who Exalts Himself Will Be Humbled

Jesus said, "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). This is one of the most common themes in Scripture: "God puts down one and exalts another" (Psalm 75:6), "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up," (James 4:10), "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). Adonijah is a perfect Old Testament example of disobeying this teaching. First Kings 1:5 says, "Adonijah exalted himself, saying, 'I will be king.'" He took the best place and had to give it up to someone more honorable than him: Solomon. Then with shame he had to take the lowest place (Luke 14:7-10).