How to Be a Kingdom BuilderSample

What’s Your Focus?

Too often, we’re focused on building our own little empires, and we forget entirely about God’s mission for us—to build His Kingdom. 

Our tendency towards looking after our own interests is never more sorely tested than when a person in authority over us—a parent or leader, or the boss at work—is being unjust or unfair. The more "me-centric" our society becomes, the more we think about our rights, especially when we’re being treated badly or taken for granted.

I deserve better than this! He can’t treat me like that! That’s just not fair!

We’ve seen so far that King David was a man after God’s own heart. And nowhere do we see this more than in his relationship with Saul. 

Here’s a quick thumbnail sketch of the situation. Saul was the very first King of Israel, but in all sorts of ways he’d gone off the rails, and God had taken His anointing off Saul and put it on young David. 

The problem was that Saul was still officially the king . . . and he was trying to kill David out of jealousy! You can read the whole story in 1 Samuel, but the part we’ll focus on today is in chapter 24.

Now David was a skilled warrior. He was a great leader of men, and he’d won just about every battle he’d fought. So with those skills and a band of loyal followers, why not kill Saul and take his place as king? It would have made sense! The whole nation could see that Saul’s reign had come to an end, and that David’s time as king had well and truly come.

As it turned out, twice David had Saul in a place where he had the opportunity to take his life, and twice, David declined to do so. 

Why?

David’s own words tell the story:

“He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to raise my hand against him; for he is the Lord’s anointed.’” – 1 Samuel 24:6 (NRSV)

Friend, these are the actions of a man after God’s own heart. He won’t take his kingship of Israel by force. Why? Because it’s not Saul’s empire, or his. It’s God’s Kingdom. 

So how do you see things in a time of conflict?

Is it about your life, your comfort, your convenience, your empire?

Or is it about God’s Kingdom?

Life Application Questions

• Have you ever had a boss at work, or someone else in a leadership position over you, treat you poorly or take you for granted? How did it feel? 
• How did you react in the situation? How did you resolve it? If you’re in that situation right now, ask God to speak to you and show you His will for you in that circumstance.
• What do you think of David’s explanation as to why he wouldn’t lift a hand against King Saul? What can you learn from his example?
• Read through King David’s story again in 1 Samuel 24, and as you read, ask God to speak into your heart so that you can continue to pursue His heart.