When all is going well in our lives; we can become self-sufficient in our thinking. It is a strong temptation to think we deserve praise for successes that come our way.  This thinking leads to a trait unbecoming a leader—envy of anyone who also has successes in their lives.  I have observed this in pastors who speak great words of how we as the congregation should do our part; but then when we do step up and God gives us success in doing it, a “pedestal pastor” will growing fearful that he/she might be replaced. Wait, what, now?

You might be asking what is a pedestal pastor?  I admit I created this description from past experiences of watching great, passionate, once God-led leaders rising to great heights of adoration of those who put them there, to a place of feeling consistent fear, anxiety, jealously, envy, and even greed for attention and more wealth from the people.  None of these traits are of the Holy Spirit.  There is no other king on earth or in heaven but King Jesus, the one and only deserving of all our praise and thanksgiving!  He alone is the One worthy of our praise!  Only Jesus deserves the Highest position given to Him by God.  We are not Jesus. 

“Go and teach,” says Jesus.  We need to climb down from our pedestals and teach others to teach others.  This should make our joy complete in Jesus!  When we are Christ-focused and Holy Spirit led; our joy will overflow when we see those we mentor also lean into God’s wisdom with focus on Jesus.  We joyfully watch as their faith becomes stronger and more resolute in their walk as a Godly leader fulfilling His purpose in their lives.  I will never forget Andy Stanley’s words regarding mentoring leaders; “In fact, I receive more joy in seeing who I trained begin to do what I did better than the way I did it.”  Read that again.  

This is like the advice Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:10-12 

Jesus tells his disciples that those who believe in him will not only do the same works he has done, but will also do “greater works”, in His Name! This promise is linked to Jesus’ impending departure to the Father and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit. The “greater works” are often interpreted as the broader impact and reach of the Christian faith after Pentecost, as believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, spread the gospel and perform acts of service and ministry on a larger scale because there are exponentially more disciples to do what Jesus did!  This makes Jesus smile!

Paul, a great missionary, church builder, and mentor to young Timothy who is in training to be a church leader advises; “Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” 2 Timothy 2:2, NLT

The church, built on the Cornerstone of Jesus Christ as Head of the Body of believers, would not be here today without Jesus training a group of young men and women to do what He did in His Name for God’s glory so others will know Him.  The work of Jesus’ disciples by the power of His Holy Spirit led them to not only preach Jesus but to train other to preach Jesus. God called many from various walks of life to deliver His message of salvation to the world!  Paul was one of those but not until Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus and gave him redemption with a new purpose—God’s purpose.  He was then trained by church leaders who were trained by the disciples of Jesus.  Do you see the pattern here? Paul spent his life training God-called leaders to train leaders to train leaders…passing it on.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”—Paul, Philippians 2:1-5.  I highly recommend reading the rest of this chapter for ways to remove ourselves from all our undeserving pedestals of praise.

Saul fell from the pedestal of selfish ambition and vane conceit who valued himself to be the new god.  But God intervened.  God’s Holy Sprit was no longer with Saul. Samuel’s mentoring of Saul became a useless work because Saul was no longer teachable. Paranoia and fear replace all he once knew. 

1 Samuel 18

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. ² From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens of thousands.”

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. ¹⁴ In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

¹⁷ Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” ¹⁹ So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. ²¹ “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

²² Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

²³ They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”

²⁴ When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, ²⁵ Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, ²⁷ David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

²⁸ When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

³⁰ The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

How we respond to praise reveals what we’re made of and whether or not we’re ready to take on new responsibilities. If praise humbles us, then God can use us. If praise puffs us up, however, we’re not yet ready for “greater things” in God’s kingdom work. “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.”—Jesus, Luke 16:10  God knows our hearts.

“Envy is a dangerous and insidious enemy, a cancer that slowly eats out our inner life and leads us to say and do terrible things. Proverbs 14:30 rightly calls it “rottenness to the bones.” Envy is the pain we feel within when somebody achieves or receives what we think belongs to us. Envy is the sin of successful people who can’t stand to see others reach the heights they have reached and eventually replace them. Envy easily leads to anger, and anger is often the first step toward murder (Matthew 5:21–26).”—Warren Wiersbe, Wiersbe Study Bible

Saul is so filled with envy and arrogance that it has made him fearful and paranoid concerning David.  Is he getting a glimpse of what God is doing in David?  No matter what he’s thinking, God will accomplish His purpose for His People.  God has not given up His authority. To his dying days, Saul’s anger from envy, pride, jealousy, and greed for attention and praise will not cease.  This is not the leader God desires for his people.  God wants His best for us always.

God will intervene in ways beyond our own imaginations.  Count on God. Trust God.  Believe. Do more what Jesus did and commands us to be and do…

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us this morning.  Jonathan gave us the example of loving friendship with each other.  David shows us how to be humble while doing the work you give us for your glory.  Saul shows us how not to be and what not to do!  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation in us.  Teach us what you what us to teach others so all will know who you are and what you gave us—salvation with eternal life! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen