The Trouble With Success Series

SERIES: DAVID - A MAN AFTER GOD¡¦S OWN HEART: Part 6: The Trouble With Success (1&2)

1. 1 Samuel 17:25 Now the Israelites had been saying, ¡§Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.¡¨ 57-58 57 As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine¡¦s head. 58 ¡§Whose son are you, young man?¡¨ Saul asked him. David said, ¡§I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.¡¨

2. 1 Samuel 18:1-5: 1 Samuel 18:1-9: After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul¡¦s officers as well. 6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: ¡§Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.¡¨ 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. ¡§They have credited David with tens of thousands,¡¨ he thought, ¡§but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?¡¨ 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.

INTRO: David: A Man After God¡¦s Own Heart Pt 6. The Trouble With Success (Pt. 1&2)

We Have Looked At David¡¦s Life Up To Killing Goliath. 1 Samuel 18 is a rich chapter. Talks about kingship, diplomacy, ethics, friendship, jealousy, evil spirits, deceit, selfishness, selfish, user, employee & employer relationship, success, etc. Let¡¦s begin with: ¡§The Trouble With Success¡¨. Example: Successful People Who Lost It All:

1. Success Is A Good Thing.

We all want to be successful. That¡¦s why promotions, being selected, graduations, marriages, recognitions, births, etc. make us feel achieved. They are high moments in our lives. Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan. When you fail, no one wants to be associated with you. Where Was David Taken From? From nothing to something - and overnight. But while success is often associated with a time of celebration, it is also a time of vulnerability. Examples: Elijah (1 Kings 18-19), Jesus (Matthew 3-4), Moses (Exodus 20-32), Joshua (Joshua 6-7), Jacob (Genesis 35), Paul & Silas Acts 16), Job (Job 1-2), Daniel (Daniel 6), Etc.

2. Warnings About Success And Riches

ľ Deuteronomy 8:10-18 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.

ľ Luke 12:16-21 Parable Of The Rich Fool

ľ 1 Timothy 6:9 But those desiring to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

WHAT NEW BENEFITS DID DAVID HAVE?

1. Favor And Love Of King Saul (1 Samuel 17:57-58: Abner brought him, Saul loved him, etc.)

2. Change Of Venue ¡V From Shepherd To Palace.

3. Change Of Status ¡V Favorite Of The King

4. Love And Admiration Of Military (1 Samuel 18:5).

5. He Won The Friendship Of The King¡¦s Son.

6. Love And Admiration Of The People ¡V He went in and among them and they love him.

7. Love And Admiration Of The Women.

8. He Was The Theme Of The Women¡¦s Songs.

9. He Became The King¡¦s Son-In-Law.

10. He Was Given Command Of The Army Of War.

11. His Family Would Not Pay Taxes In Israel.

12. He Excelled In Everything He Did.

13. He Became A Household Name.

14. He Was 10 Times More Successful Than King Saul.

15. In Summary: He Received Favor (1 Samuel 18:1-4), Praise (1 Samuel 18:5-7). All these praises did not go to his head. The new found celebrity did not change him. Proverbs 27:21 Fire Tests The Purity Of Silver And Gold, But A Person Is Tested By Being Praised.