RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

I was young and impressionable — but soon became devastated. I was in a prayer meeting with a group of men I respected greatly when a pastor looked straight at me and said, “I believe there’s sin in the camp. And Sammy, you’re the one who has sinned.” My heart sank. I loved and respected this man. He was one of the best Bible teachers I have ever heard. My mind began to race. What had I done?
He began to accuse me of exaggerating a testimony I had given in his church the previous Sunday. I had just returned from witnessing and sharing the gospel at a communist youth festival of 100,000 hard-core communistic, atheistic young people. God had moved in the meeting, and we were able to lead about 200 of those young people to Christ. I shared the testimony with his congregation. But now I was confused. Had I exaggerated? Why was he saying this? In my confusion, I began to weep. I asked his forgiveness and the forgiveness of everyone present.
I left the prayer meeting to travel to another speaking engagement. When I got on the plane, the fog began to lift. I thought, “What did I confess, and why did I confess it?” As far as I could remember, I had not exaggerated. When I returned home, I got a copy of the testimony I had given and compared it to the diary of one of my colleagues on the trip. I discovered I had not exaggerated. About six months later, it was discovered that this great Bible teacher was having an affair with his secretary. Only then did I realize what had happened. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Since then, I’ve made it a policy to be quick to confess when I have done something wrong, but also to never accept a false accusation.
David found himself in a similar position. After defeating the Philistines, the people began to love and respect David more than King Saul. They were singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). And the Bible says, “Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. ‘They have credited David with tens of thousands,’ he thought, ‘but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?’” (1Samuel18:8). Saul began to devise plans to kill David. He became obsessed with getting rid of David.
There are some great lessons we can learn from what transpired between Saul and David. First, jealousy is deadly. Saul was jealous of David’s victory and fame, plain and simple. It drove him to attempt some very stupid things. He tried to entrap David. He then tried to kill the man God had chosen. But it all came to naught. Jealousy never wins. God protected David. The future king came out on the winning side.
I’ve discovered that many Christians are great at crying with those who hurt, but terrible at rejoicing with those who experience victory. But God wants us to do both. Saul refused to thank God for David’s victory, and it led to his ruin. When a brother or sister in Christ experiences victory, we need to learn to rejoice with them. It’s not only good for them, but also for us. Ultimately, it’s good for the kingdom of God. There’s no room for jealousy in His kingdom.
Second, I find David’s initial response wholesome. He held no animosity toward Saul. He didn’t attempt to get revenge. He protected himself, but he didn’t go after Saul. He learned to allow God to be His defender. Everything that Saul tried to do against David was thwarted by God. Saul even sent his men to capture David, but instead of killing David, they ended up prophesying.
If we have the assurance we are in the will of God, we can have great confidence in God to protect us. It’s been my experience that jealousy may cause us temporary problems, but truth always wins in the end. So it was with David. Saul’s jealousy didn’t win. And God’s man stood the test of time. So the next time you find yourself falsely accused, just remember: you’re on the winning team. God and time are both on your side.