1 Kings 1:25 (NKJV)
“For he has gone down today, and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and look! They are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’”

It is good to celebrate promotions and be excited about the victories we have won. It is good to be thankful and to rejoice over the things that God has done for us. In fact, the Bible commands us to be thankful, and so we should be.

But it is one thing to be thankful for what God has done for us, and it is another thing to be thankful based on a faulty presumption that God has done something for us. Some people confuse God’s work with wishful thinking, and this is dangerous.

If you know God has done something for you, then celebrate. Even if you have not seen the result yet, but you have an assurance in your spirit that the Lord has done it, go ahead and give the Lord praise. This is a work of faith.

However, do not celebrate if any of these conditions apply.

If the process you are using to get your result is faulty, do not celebrate. If there is any form of corruption in your system, do not celebrate. If God has not given you a specific word that He will do it, do not celebrate prematurely.

Adonijah was a corrupt man and had manipulated things to try to gain the kingship. He did not consult with his father, David, and wrongly assumed he could take over by force and deception. And then he went ahead to celebrate without permission from the king.

We know the rest of the story. He never received what he thought was rightfully his because he went about it incorrectly. He failed to work according to due process, and because he seemed to have been making progress, he thought he could celebrate.

God is jealous about how we do things. If we do not follow His protocols, then He will not endorse our projects. And we cannot force Him to do anything He has not endorsed. So, we must be patient in doing things right so that we can celebrate in due time.

Celebration is good, but it is only good if God’s hand of blessing is upon it. A celebration that does not have heaven’s backing is presumptuous. It is a celebration by assumption, and this will always leave a bitter taste in our mouths at the end of the day.

Seek God’s face and timing. Let Him lead you into the victories and promotions He has prepared for you. And as you walk with Him, be thankful for every step of the way, even if you don’t see the victory yet. Celebrate properly, and not by wishful thinking.

@ChineduOranye
RestlessPilgrim.org