We’re now in the second half of 1 Samuel. We’ve read the stories of rise of Samuel and Saul. You watched the mistakes of Saul. A few chapters ago, we were introduced to the great Israeli king, David. In this chapter we learn we lead when we serve the leader (or, in this case, the future leader).
Start by reading 1 Samuel 19 for yourself, take notes, and compare what you hear from God with what I see and hear. The Bible is alive and active. You and I may not see the same things. And if you’ve missed any of the past posts of earlier chapters, you can find them all HERE.
Jump in with me!
Serve to Lead
Sometimes leading isn’t being in the lead. In fact, most times leading is serving — making yourself a little lower than those you lead. Jonathan could have been king, and he may have been a good king. Take count of some of Jonathan’s best qualities – humility, bravery, loyalty – great attributes for a king.
Jonathan laid his own success down, and he chose to serve the one who would lead. He laid down his rights as the first born to the sitting king – to serve David. I can’t even imagine the kind of humility this must have took from Jonathan, or the strength needed to stand up to his father.
Jonathan lead in a unique way. We need more Jonathan’s in our world.
Paul wrote about this type of leadership exhibited in Jesus:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:5-8 NIV
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!”
Not many of us are called to be “the guy”. Most of us serve someone who is the boss, leader, manager. How we play our role is vital to the success of the home we live in, the organization we are part of, the leader we work for, and ourselves. Jesus was “the guy”, yet Jesus served.
May you have the mindset of Jesus and Jonathan before him. May you serve well today.
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