He's only 17, but he's got that reputation! Out of this relationship with God, and his response to God, he developed a heart that hungered for one thing. His heart was for God, and he developed serving; he developed skill in music; he developed his character, his courage, and his ability to fight. He presented himself well, spoke well, and people heard about him. Someone said: you need David! Bring David in! He didn't have to promote himself, because someone else said: that's the guy you need. Today you're preparing for tomorrow's promotion - or not preparing for it?
To become a teacher, you need to be doing the preparation - have a clear goal, taking steps to get there, working on things… What are you working on?
1 Samuel 16:19-23 – “Therefore, Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said: send me your son David who is with the sheep (he knew he was a shepherd). And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him, and he loved him greatly and became his armorbearer. Then Saul sent to Jesse saying: let David stand before me, he's found favor in my sight. And so it was, whenever the spirit of God was upon Saul (whenever he had a panic attack), David would take the harp and he'd play with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart”.
David had learned how to play in such a way that the anointing of God was released! You can speak in such a way that God's presence comes with you. You can play an instrument, so God's presence comes with you. Whatever you do, God's presence comes with you, into it. See what he had around his life? That's what you desire! That comes out of a life devoted to the Lord. You can build these things around your own life - it wouldn't be too hard.
He's now promoted, from the back side of the desert, alone with sheep, to the palace of a king. He's standing alongside the king, in the place where governmental decisions affecting a nation are being made, and he's watching every bit, in training for his day. He's in the wings, waiting for his moment to emerge; but he's only worried about being faithful.
When you get promoted, when you get lifted up, when recognition comes in your life, that becomes a bigger test of your character than when you were alone, and no one knew you, because when people are successful, they tend not to look at the Lord; they tend instead to enjoy their newfound status, and their new privileges. He ate at the king's table, was in the king's palace, was there when everything was happening. He had a nice room, nice surroundings, had everything going for him - but he still maintained the same heart he had, when he was a shepherd.
When you get promoted, that will test your attitude. Have you ever noticed where someone has come into a bit of money, and then they never talked to you? Or they got promoted, and now they don't want to know you, because their newfound position has caused them to become elevated with pride. Sometimes success, and particularly success in ministry (or in any area of life) can cause you to become confident in your own ability, and lose what got you there in the first place. Never lose the source!
1 Samuel 17:15 – “David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem”.
That tells you his heart! He never got a cocky attitude towards his brothers – ha-ha, look at me! You didn't think much of me before, but now I'm in the king's palace! If you don't listen, I'm going to tell the king - you're in trouble. He didn't get lifted-up! Most people will never go back to what they did before - they're beyond it!