What does God look for in a leader? (86-4)
When choosing a leader, God’s selection criteria is different than society’s selection criteria. Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13.
The selection of David to be Israel’s king illustrates how God often disregards human customs and traditions to accomplish His purposes. Even the prophet Samuel was fooled. When Samuel looked at Jesse’s oldest son Eliab, he naturally assumed that God must have chosen this noble and sturdy young man to be the Lord’s anointed leader. But the Lord makes it clear in this passage that the people He chooses to do the great things for Him are called on the basis of inward character, not on the basis of outward impressiveness.
So, what does God look for in a leader that even David’s own father and Samuel the prophet of God did not see. Verse 7 says “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” Leadership potential cannot be measured by inches or pounds or degrees or background. Whatever else qualifies people for leadership, no one is qualified for greatness – by God’s standard – until their heart is ready.
David began his leadership journey as low man on the totem pole. He did what was asked of him with a great attitude even though his brothers looked down on him. David’s life illustrates that faithfulness in small things often results in much larger assignments and greater responsibility down the road. David loved the Lord and lived his life as a man after God’s own heart.
The leader’s prayer and focus of effort must center here. Skills, intelligence and hard work are all a part of the package. But God reminds us that, in the final analysis, one thing makes the difference. God looks at the leader’s heart.
How do you evaluate your “heart” progress? Does your heart really desire to live by Biblical standards? Do you have someone that will tell you the truth and hold you accountable to live by Biblical standards?
