Facing Leadership Challenges Without Excuses | 1 Samuel 13:11-15

Are you making excuses for your actions as a leader?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are in 1 Samuel 13. I've titled this chapter "Partial Obedience Is Complete Disobedience."

In Chapter 13, the Philistines test Saul. In disobedience, he does not wait for Samuel to offer spiritual direction by burnt offering and, therefore, does it himself. And here is the interchange between Saul and Samuel.

Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” And Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal. The rest of the people went up after Saul to meet the army; they went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. — 1 Samuel 13:11-15

So Saul gets called out by Samuel, and as he does, he offers five immediate excuses:

The people were afraid and running in fear.
You, their spiritual leader, were not on time (even though he was).
The Philistines are close and prepared to attack us.
I knew I needed to seek the favor of the Lord.
So, I forced myself to do something I knew I shouldn't do.
These excuses sound all too familiar, don't they? This sounds like every teenager who has ever been caught in a mistake.

Saul's response to Samuel underscores a universal truth about leadership. Leadership is a role that comes with pressures from all directions, both internal and external, and physical and spiritual. Leaders encounter these pressures daily, and they have the privilege of making decisions that either honor or dishonor God. This is the challenge of leadership, a truth that we must all come to terms with.

But what's even more telling is Saul's response. Yes, he was under immense leadership pressure at this moment, but instead of leading with patience, acting in faith, and seeking godly direction, he chose to act on his own volition and afterward offered a bunch of excuses. Saul's leadership failure at this moment cost him dearly. As a result, God declared that Saul’s kingdom would not continue to his next of kin, a decision that would affect his next of kin, Jonathan. This is a stark reminder that we, as leaders, are all in danger of suffering the same fate if we are not careful as well.

The pressures of leadership will always test the dimensions of our character. Acting impatiently and offering excuses may provide momentary relief, but they ultimately undermine leadership trust and integrity with both God and man. Godly leadership demands that we own our mistakes, learn from them, and strive to align our actions with God's commands, regardless of what pressures come our way.

#LeadershipIntegrity, #ObeyGod, #AvoidExcuses

Ask This:
How do you handle the pressures and challenges in your own leadership roles, and what are some excuses you might use to justify your decisions?
In what areas of your life are you tempted to offer excuses rather than seeking godly direction and acting with integrity? How can you address these areas to align more closely with God's commands?
Do This:
Lead with godly integrity.

Pray This:
Lord, help me to recognize and confront any excuses I use to justify my actions and decisions. Grant me the courage and integrity to lead with faithfulness and obedience to Your commands, no matter the pressures I face. Amen.

Play This:
Lead the Way.