Avoid The Trap Of Popular Opinion Series

Series: Israel’s 2nd King- David [#1]

AVOID THE TRAP OF POPULAR OPINION

1 Samuel 16:1-13

Introduction:

A recent survey has compiled all the qualities that people expect from the perfect pastor:

* Results of a computerized survey indicated that the perfect pastor preaches exactly 12 minutes.

* He frequently condemns sin but never upsets anyone.

* He works from 8am-12am and is also the janitor.

* He makes $60 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $80 a week to the poor.

* He is 28 years of age, but he's been preaching for 30 years.

* He is wonderfully gentle and handsome.

* He gives himself completely but never gets too close to anyone to avoid criticism.

* He speaks boldly on social issues; but must never become politically involved.

* He has a burning desire to work with teenagers; but he spends all his time with senior citizens.

*He makes 15 daily calls to church families, visits shut-ins and the hospitalized, spends all his time evangelizing the un-churched, and is always in his office when needed.

This sounds funny; but we all have our own sets of standards for pastors, deacons, politicians, etc… We need to be careful that we don’t fall into the trap of popular opinion.

1 Samuel 16:1-5

To avoid the trap of popular opinion…

1. Quit worrying.

We see the pattern of worry in these verses.

* Worry begins when we become inactive.

Samuel was moping around and crying about what Saul had done. Was that going to change what happened? Was that going to choose a new king? Was that going to move God’s people forward?

* Worrying turns into fear.

Samuel didn’t want to do anything because he was convinced that Saul would kill him.

* Worry is contagious.

Samuel was worried about Saul, and the elders were worried about Samuel.

How to kill worry...

* Get up and be active.

* Do what the Lord says to do.

* Encourage others to worship and serve the Lord.

1 Samuel 16:6-13

To avoid the trap of popular opinion…

2. Quit assuming.

Don’t assume that…

* God is going to follow our traditions.

The tradition at that time was that the 1st born would be king.

Don’t assume that…

* God sees as we see.

We look at the outside, but God looks at the heart.

How to kill assuming…

* Seek God before you do anything else.

* Continue on until God gives you an answer.

Samuel went son by son until he ran out of sons. Then he asked Jesse if there were any other sons and he told him about David. At that point, Samuel said he would not sit down until David got there.

Conclusion:

As soon as God told Samuel that David was the one, then Samuel was told to anoint him as king. We need to wait for God to direct us and not make decisions based upon popular opinion; but when He does answer, we need to obey. There are times that we know what God wants us to do, but we won’t do it because it is not popular. So what? Who are we going to follow- Man or God?