The objective of this lesson: To stress that godly potential can be wasted.
One of the great griefs in life is to know what could have happened but did not happen. The problem was not a lack of abilities. God gave the person or persons the necessary gifts to accomplish the task in a godly manner. The problem was not a lack of opportunity. The opportunity existed. Then what was the problem? Either (1) the person or persons did not trust the abilities/gifts God gave, or (2) the person or persons did not see the opportunity, or (3) the person or persons abused/wasted the gifts, the opportunity, or both.
Stress that most of us have regrets about our past. To look at a past happening or past choice you made with a sense of regret does not make you unusual. Nor does the magnitude of the situation or the choice make you unusual. Many have reacted in the same way to your situation or made the same choice.
Rare is the individual who does not look at his or her past in life's rearview mirror and wish he or she had made different decisions at key moments that would have produced a different life. Think of how much your life would have changed if (1) you went to a different school; (2) you prepared for a different career; (3) you married or did not marry; (4) you selected a different spouse; (5) you had more children, fewer children, or no children; (6) you did not believe in God; (7) you trusted God more [had more faith]; (8) the resurrection of Jesus Christ had no impact on your life; (9) you grew up in and lived in a different country; etc. All your life you made choices that make you who you are now. Different choices would have radically impacted who you are and how you live.
Stress (a) everyone evaluates past decisions, and (b) most look at some choices they made with a sense of regret.
Today you are asked to consider a man who had an incredible opportunity, yet wasted himself and his life because he developed and surrendered to bad attitudes.
Ask them to consider Saul from a view that differs from "an abbreviated Bible story." This study may challenge some long-held but unthought about or spiritually unevaluated concepts.
Few people have enjoyed the privilege of being hand-picked by God for a task and given by God His Spirit to achieve that task. Saul came from a father who was a mighty man of valor [a man of wealth and influence] (1 Samuel 9:1). Saul himself had a striking physical appearance--no one in Israel exceeded him in good appearance or height. He had the physical appearance that blessed leadership ability! Physically, he looked like a leader! Saul also was compassionately humble. (a) He did not brag to his uncle about Samuel's appointment. (b) When what are described as "worthless" [sons of Belial] men insulted him at his inauguration, Saul was silent (1 Samuel 10:27). When Saul later proved his worth, he saved these men's lives (1 Samuel 11:12, 13). (c) Saul was "hand-picked" by God to be Israel's first king (1 Samuel 9:15-17) and was given God's Spirit (1 Samuel 10:6)!
Stress Saul's advantages. For example, discuss the importance of "looking the part"; emphasize the importance of one's physical looks not detracting from the ability to accept the responsibility. Discuss the importance of attitude in leadership. Discuss the advantages of God knowing you have the ability to do the task (suggesting that God knowingly picked Saul to fail contains more questions than answers).
Saul, however, became a very anxious man. In his personal anxiety [and growing refusal to trust God], he became obsessed with himself to the point that he trusted no one. When Samuel did not appear for a sacrifice when Saul expected (1 Samuel 13:8-14), Saul offered the sacrifice, and his action was inappropriate. When his son was devoted to David as a best friend, Saul was irate at Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:30-34). Though David was loyal to Saul constantly in ways many of us would regard as foolish, Saul repeatedly tried to kill David because he saw David only as a rival. When God gave Saul a mission to the Amalekites with specific instructions, Saul dishonored God's request in the desire to (a) do things his way and (b) memorialize his victory (1 Samuel 15:11- 23). When Samuel finally caused King Saul to see the sin, Saul was more concerned about how the leaders of Israel would view him than he was about how God viewed him (1 Samuel 15:30).
What Saul became was not at all what God knew Saul had the potential to be. Note that all Saul's problems began with the way he looked at himself (which was not at all the way God saw him). When we look to self (instead of God) for our sense of security, we increasingly become very insecure persons. A focus on self generates anxiety because physical limitations increasingly swallow us. The more we use self to seek to make ourselves secure, the more insecure we feel and act. Attempts to "prove" how "good we are" can be smoke screens to hide our inadequacies. Beware of super-confident people because an exaggerated sense of confidence at times is used to hide the fears of insecurity.
God was so disappointed in Saul that God began a new dynasty in Israel that would eventually produce the Messiah, Jesus Christ (1 Samuel 16:1; Matthew 1:1, 16). The problem with Saul was not potential or lack of ability. It was developing an ungodly attitude, holding to that ungodly attitude, and increasingly surrendering to that ungodly attitude regardless of what it did or what it cost him.
Discuss the concept of disappointing God. Discuss the tragedy of justifying an ungodly attitude rather than recognizing and confronting a personal inadequacy.
God has blessed your life with blessings that exceed your awareness. He has made it possible for you to see His purposes and His Spirit in ways godly people before Jesus Christ were never privileged (consider 1 Peter 1:10-12). Most Christians have potential and opportunity beyond their comprehension.
Discuss some of the blessings of which we are aware. Note the advantages we enjoy because of those blessings. Note how those blessings can be abused or perverted.
Our problems are not created by a lack of opportunity or ability, but by one or a combination of these things:
Discuss which of these things are common problems. Talk about why they are problems. The objective is to heighten awareness (a) that these things are problems and to note (b) why these things are problems.
You have one life to live. You have a definite number of days of opportunity to serve God's purposes. The opportunities that come your way are limited. The surest way for you to waste your time and opportunities is to assume you always will have them. The moment will come for each of us when either health or age will limit us. No one is wise enough to make "all" decisions wisely. No one lacks the ability to make the majority of decisions wisely. Do not waste life. Do not look back on life with deep regret because you abused, wasted, or thoughtlessly used time and health. Learn, and never stop learning! Understand, and never fear growing in understanding! Bless the rest of your life with the wisdom that comes from learning and understanding!
The objective is to see time and opportunity as precious gifts that are not to be neglected or abused. Making people feel hopeless is NOT the objective. Use what you learn from past mistakes to live the "now" more wisely.
For Thought and Discussion
One of the great griefs in life is to know what could have happened but did not happen.
Few enjoyed the privilege of being hand-picked by God and being given God's Spirit for the task.
Saul became anxious.
God promised to take the kingdom of Israel from Saul's sons. God made a new dynasty through whom He sent the Messiah (Christ).
He developed an ungodly attitude and held to it regardless of its impact or cost.
We each have one such life.
It is to assume you always will have time and opportunity.
You should always learn and understand.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 10