Once I stopped being jealous
because of how God used others pastors, I began to learn from them. Learning
from them means understanding the reasons why they have such a positive impact
on their churches and communities. I understand the typical answer of its not
them its God, but why then do some pastors fail to have much of an impact? Does
God fail? If everything is up to God, then He has a spotty record of success
and failure. I personally believe that God provides all that is needed for
churches and pastors to make powerful impacts on their communities. Success
will depend on our cooperating with Him. We don’t sit by and watch God do all
the all the work. He calls, equips, and sends us into the lives of others. Yes,
it is His plan, and His power, but we must cooperate in order to participate.
We see this
in the lives of many biblical and historical figures. The focus here is the
process God leads His people through as He guides them to places of impact. A
very powerful perspective is gained through the life of David. He was a shepherd
turned king. In this process David had to cooperate with God through faith,
patience, and obedience. As he did, those around him had mixed feelings. He experienced
love and praise from some, but jealousy and rage from others. Remaining humble
through these experiences was part of David’s cooperation with God. However,
God is leading you into lives around you, the challenge will be to live humbly
in His plan.
This post
focuses on 1 Samuel Ch.18 where we see David successfully remain humble in the
face of various reactions to God’s work in his life. Here, we draw several
conclusions concerning jealousy and humility. Jealousy destroys appreciation
yet love destroys jealousy (V. 1-9). Though he was naturally inline to become
king, Jonathan loved David without a hint of jealousy. The exact opposite was
the case with King Saul as he sought to destroy David, because David received
all the praise. Jealousy also blinds us from the good God does in others (V.10-16).
As we see
jealousy at work in this text, we also see the work of humility. David displays
the idea that humility is not thinking of yourself beyond who you are (V. 17-27).
It also allows us to live within the jealously of some and the praise of others
(V. 28-30). By observing how jealousy and humility work in David’s life, we
receive the challenge to receive God’s favor through humble cooperation.
A foundational truth to support this
challenge is found in Proverbs 3:34 which states “Toward
the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble He
gives favor” (ESV). This foundational truth is displayed though a parable of
Jesus in Luke 18:9-14. As we live up to
this challenge, may our church be filled with Jesus’ example of humility as found
in Philippians 2:1-11.
“1 So if there is any
encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the
Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or
conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4
Let each of you look
not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the
form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7
but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.”
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