Leadership, especially for ministers, comes with both privileges and dangers. You will have the privilege to get others to serve under your authority. But what if God rejects you after seeing you fail to obey Him? That’s dangerous. Right? Yet, that is what happened to Saul in the Old Testament. One time, God, through the prophet Samuel, instructed Saul to attack the Amalekites. God said that Saul should destroy everything on the land—man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey [see 1 Samuel 15:3 (NKJV)].
Saul was obedient and went to the war. But he and the people spared Agag, king of the Amalekites, as well as the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good [see 1 Samuel 15:9 (NKJV)]. They were unwilling to destroy them because they looked good before their eyes. Meanwhile, God despised it. That reminds me of what Jesus said in John 6:63 (NKJV),
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
God’s words are spiritual. And what He loves is usually despised by men. It’s the same vice versa.
Be obedient to God
The most significant test of Christian leadership is divine obedience. So, as a leader, you are subject to divine instruction from God and your spiritual heads over your life. There is nothing like no accountability in leadership, especially for ministers of the gospel. Saul thought he could do whatever he liked because he was king, but that made God reject him in the end.
There is nothing like no accountability in leadership, especially for ministers of the gospel.
Rejected by God but accepted by men
However, even though God rejected Saul, he still reigned as king over Israel for several years. But in all those years, he wasn’t himself. Saul kept chasing after the young boy David instead of focusing on his kingship. That is the same thing that happens to a leader God has departed from yet is still accepted by men because he has followers. His focus will be lost.
Don’t add your own actions to God’s instructions
Saul thought God would accept his offering because the animals they used to sacrifice looked good before their eyes. But Samuel made us understand that divine obedience is better than sacrifice (see 1 Samuel 15:22). Dear leader, you must always run checks on your heart. Because when your heart is not right with God, you’ll do things God hasn’t commanded you to do even though you may see nothing wrong with it. Several people have fallen victim to this. So, be careful. Never abuse your calling, and remain accountable to God and the spiritual heads over your life.
You are a blessing!