Jealousy and envy degrade and destroy a person’s leadership. Learn to celebrate the success of others. The best leaders are guides, not heroes. Become a hero maker. 

David killed Goliath. This teenager proved himself more powerful than the Head and Shoulders King. The king’s son, Jonathan, knew a good thing when he saw it. He openly elevated David. In Jonathan, there was no jealousy at all. 

Jonathan’s confidence was well-placed. Notice how many times this chapter says David was successful in everything he did. Notice also how King Saul’s initial esteem devolves into jealousy, rage, fear, and murderous intent. 

Saul’s circle of influence grew smaller and smaller. David’s grew larger and larger. Saul reasoned irrationally that his circle would grow larger again if he stole David’s. Lights become brighter when the sun goes down, it is true. The glare from a bulb also illuminates the look of loathing. 

Saul, Saul
He could have had it all.
Jealousy, then envy
Led to his self-centered fall. 

Great leaders focus on multiplying great leadership by empowering and equipping others with appropriate responsibility and authority. 

If Saul had written an autobiography, he might have given it the title, BI. 

If David had written an autobiography, he might have given it the title, God is Bigger than Big. David’s handwritten psalms make this clear.

Saul’s self-focus led to a great fall. David later fell his own fall. Whereas Saul never recovered, never got up, David went all the way down until God restored his soul (Psalms 23:3; 32; 51). 

Leaders fail. Not all leaders are failures. 

Leaders fail when they esteem themselves as heroes. 

Leaders succeed when they serve as faithful guides and hero-makers. 

Lead like Jonathan, not like Saul.

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I will become a faithful guide and a hero-maker.

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Our Father, empower me to empower others. Use me to enrich others’ walk with you. Use me to provide appropriate responsibility and authority to those who are growing into the leaders you want them to become. Make me a faithful guide and hero-maker. Amen.