If there is a quote that I count among my favorites, it is the quote from George W. Truett, who said that “True success is knowing God’s will and being in the center of it.” Implied in that quote is that there is a type of success that is true and another that is false.
In this passage, we see a wonderful example of the truth of this statement in the life of David. In a sense, both Saul and David were successes, but while Saul’s success was a curse, David’s was a blessing; because David’s success was true, while Saul’s was false. As we consider the contrast between these two men, let’s make note of the differences between false and true success in life.
1. False Success is Grasped; True Success is Given - vs. 1-5
Saul wanted to remain king and pass along his legacy to his son, Jonathon. All through-out 1 Samuel, this is his focus. He finds himself fighting against God as he strives to tighten his grasp on the throne.
By contrast, David is not striving to grasp hold of anything. He simply focuses on remaining faithful to God by making the most of what opportunities for service God gives. As a result, success is not something he had to gain through his effort and ingenuity; it was something that was given by God’s grace. This is beautifully portrayed in what we are told about Jonathon’s covenant with David (vs. 3-4). The very one that represented the continuation of Saul’s legacy as king of Israel, recognized David as the God appointed heir to the throne. That is what Jonathan’s actions portray.
A) Jonathan gave David the benefit of his royal position. Giving his robe and tunic to David symbolized that everything belonging to him also belonged to David.
B) Jonathan gave David the benefit of his royal power. Giving David his sword, bow, and belt indicated that Jonathan was pledging himself to David’s defense; placing his power at David’s disposal.
You see, God had a plan for David. He was destined to be Israel’s king. And as David was faithful to take each step God provided, he eventually entered into that destiny. If God opens doors for you, no one can shut them; if God closes doors to you, nothing can open them.
The only one who can close a door God opens to you is yourself.
That is what Saul did through his disobedience. But by his obedience, David saw the door God opened to him simply open wider and wider; until it opened so wide that even the heir to the throne recognized being king was a destiny that belonged to David.
Sometimes, we think there is nothing for us to do until God reveals His plan for our lives. Then we will get busy. Instead, we need to see that God’s destiny is something that He brings about in our lives as we are faithful with each opportunity to serve Him.
David served as the shepherd of his father’s sheep. As a result, he had the opportunity to trust god to help him to defeat the lion and the bear. As a result, he had the opportunity to trust God to enable him to defeat Goliath. As a result, he had the opportunity to become part of Saul royal court. As a result, he had the opportunity to become the close friend of the king’s son, Jonathon. As a result, he was given opportunity to serve the king as a leader in the royal army.
True success is given, not grasped. It is given one step at a time; and fully received as we are faithful to obey God in every opportunity.
2. False Success is Jealous; True Success is Joyful - vs. 6-9
Now, after defeating Goliath, the armies of Israel pursued the Philistines and defeated them. Apparently, David accompanied them, and showed himself to be even more courageous in doing so.
Consequently, upon the armies of Israel returning from their defeat of the Philistines, they are greeted with a song sung by the women, who are rejoicing in how God used Saul and how God had used David. They were not seeking to make any kind of comparison or to dishonor Saul - quite the opposite! But Saul didn’t see it that way. Saul was jealous because he wasn’t honored as the “top dog.”
Because false success is based on my efforts and ingenuity rather than on my faithfulness in God given opportunities, one is always going to be concerned with being recognized more than giving God the glory.
This is the attitude that characterized Saul. David, on the other hand, seemed to join in the celebration led by these women - a celebration designed, not to bring honor to any man, but to bring honor to God.
It has been observed that “there is no telling what all we can accomplish if no one cares who gets the credit.” But I would suggest that a better scenario would be that “there is no telling what all we can accomplish if we only care that God gets the glory.”
Because true success is given by God as a result of faithfulness to God given opportunities; the attitude of the truly successful is to joyfully give God the glory for any accomplishments; rather than seeking to jealously take all the credit.
3. False Success Promotes; True Success Produces - vs. 10-16
Jesus gives us an understand of how the Holy Spirit worked before the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was free to come upon God’s people fully without ever leaving because the price for sin had been fully paid.
“You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” - Luke 11:11-13 (NLT)
Before Pentecost, believers had to ask for the Spirit’s presence; but because of the price fully paid at Calvary, since Pentecost, everyone who believes on Christ receives the presence of the Holy Spirit at the moment we believe (Ephesians 1:13). But while we do not need to ask for the Spirit’s presence in this age like they did in Saul and David’s day, we need to ask for the Spirit’s power every bit as much.
The point here is that Saul no longer depended on the presence or power of the Holy Spirit, hence, he was left to be used and victimized by forces of evil. He prophesied! Not by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, but by the presence and power of an evil spirit. But there was a big difference between this prophecy and prophecy inspired by the Holy Spirit. What the Holy Spirit declares is also done; while Saul’s prophecy here was nothing but vain proclamation and self-promotion.
“For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” - 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)
Saul’s success was characterized by mere talk and self-promotion. David’s success was characterized by a Spirit-empowered walk and solid production.
“And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.” - 1 Samuel 18:14 (ESV)
Because Saul’s success was all about self-promotion and no divine power, he became so frustrated that he sought to take David out.
But even when faced with that challenge, David successfully evaded Saul’s attempts to do away with him (v. 11). Because David depended on the Spirit of the Lord to enable him to succeed, he was able to hit Goliath in one try; while Saul, depending only on himself, could not hit David in two tries.
“Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 (Amplified)
If one depends on himself, then the easy things will be difficult; But if one depends on the Spirit, then the difficult things will be easy.
4. False Success Manipulates; True Success Motivates - vs. 17-30
Saul sought to use his daughters to get the Philistines to kill David. His plan was to require David to kill 100 Philistines before he could marry one of his daughters. Saul expected David would be killed trying to fulfill the requirement. First, Saul offered his daughter, Merab to be David’s bride. But David’s humility kept him from taking her as his wife. When Saul later learned that his other daughter, Michael, was in love with David, he sought again to carry out his plan. But David came to no harm from the Philistines because his men had grown to love him so, no doubt because of his humble spirit, that they assisted him in fulfilling Saul’s requirement (in fact, David killed 200 Philistines). With that help, David was kept safe from Saul’s evil scheme. This illustrates a big difference between Saul and David.
Saul manipulated people to do things; David did things that motivated people.
Conclusion: As we consider these characteristics of a life that is a true success, how does your life look?
Are you seeking to be faithful to honor God with every opportunity He gives you?
Is your life characterized by a joy that comes from living for things that are bigger then yourself?
Is your life being lived in a dependence on the power of God’s Spirit?
Is your life being a positive influence on other people?
Are you seeking to live your life like David sought to live his? By endeavoring to be in the center of God’s will?
