Threat to Power

"It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. The women sang as they played, and said, 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.' Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, 'They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?' Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on." -1 Samuel 18.6-9

The Spirit of God has departed from Saul and descended upon David. When Saul sees that the people are beginning to favor David he begins to look at David with suspicion. At that point he begins to try to eliminate David, the threat to his kingdom. He personally tries to kill him, and when that attempt is unsuccessful he tries to set him up to be killed in battle. All of his attempts fail because God is with David.

How do we handle those we perceive to be a threat to our power? I'm guessing that no one reading this is not dealing with a physical throne being taken away from them, but what about a threat to your job? The youth pastor is favored over the lead pastor. This person has great success at work and is quickly climbing the corporate ladder. This new teachers classes are always fuller than the older classes. Name your situation. What is your reaction in that moment?

Looking at Saul, he desperately clung to power, and tried to do everything he could to remove the threat. He was unsuccessful because he was trying to eliminate God's chosen leader. Not every situation will be this drastic, but how do we handle the ones that aren't? Ministry is my area, and so that is where I will focus, but the concept is applicable across the board. Too many pastors stay in leadership longer than they should and do damage to the Kingdom. They refuse to share the pulpit because the youth pastor might be more popular. In some cases the youth pastor may even be fired to protect the pastor's ego.

Men, we are not going to live forever, and we cannot stay in power forever. We were not intended to. There is a time for us to take the lead, and also a time for us to step down. In one sense we must work ourselves out of a job by training up the future leaders. We can perceive them as a threat and then spend our remaining time fighting it, destroying their reputations and futures, at the expense of our own ministry. Or we can take the opportunity to help prepare them to take the lead. That is the way God intended for it to be done.

Let us be men who do not desperately cling to power, and work to eliminate every threat to our rule. Let us be men who work to prepare the next generation of leaders so that the Kingdom can continue to advance.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor