Homily for January 18, 2018.
“Saul was
very angry, and this saying displeased him; he said: ‘They have ascribed to
David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and what more can
he have but the kingdom?’ And Saul eyed David from that day on.” 1 Samuel
18:8-9.
Why was
Saul angry that David could accomplish more than himself in battle ground?
Perhaps Saul forgot that God had already rejected him from being King. He
forgot that the throne had left him long ago and he did not realize that the
same oil that was used in anointing him has been used in anointing David.
Come to
think of it, even David himself did not know he was King. He wasn’t even
interested in usurping power from Saul. So if Saul had simply let things be,
David would have continued to serve him as a staff of the royal palace and this
way, he would have remained King for much longer. But Saul had a problem.
Saul’s
problem was that he was a people-pleaser. Saul’s ego would not allow glory to
anyone else other than himself. It was this same problem that made God reject
him as King. He cared more about what the people were saying than about what
was right. Now, this same people-pleasing sickness would not allow Saul rest
when he heard the women singing of David’s prowess in battle.
Saul suddenly
became envious of David so much so that he started fighting the only man left
with the anointing to save the kingdom from the Philistines. Nowadays, it has
become commonplace for our men of God to rain insults on their fellow men of
God on the pulpit. Instead of us to admit our limitations and work together to
face a common enemy, we are attacking one another like Saul attacking David who
was supposed to be his boy!
The secret
of very successful people is their ability to acknowledge their weakness and inadequacy
while gathering around themselves the best brains and talents to work for them.
Trust me, you can’t do it all alone! You shoot yourself in the leg when instead
of treating your people well, you allow your pride push them away.
Eventually,
Saul’s reign would come to an end not because of the power of the Philistines
but because of his fight with David.
The
problem of being a people-pleaser is that no matter how you try, you can never
please everybody. As Mr. Tuface Idibia would say: “as you get opinion, everybody
get opinion too but their opinion no concern you.” If you seek the good opinion
of everyone on earth, then get ready for lots and lots of sleepless nights. If
you desire to enter into people’s minds and know what they are thinking about
you, then get ready to let go of your humanity and become a witch.
The fact
is, if people opinion matter to you more than God’s opinion (your conscience),
then you cannot escape the disease of Saul which is INFERIORITY COMPLEX – the
strong feeling of dissatisfaction, restlessness, insufficiency, inadequacy, low
self-esteem.
You may
have all the money in the world yet it feels like nothing to you because you
feel people are not really aware of your greatness so you want to “show them.”
You close your eyes to the poor and needy, you buy things you don’t need and
engage in wastefulness just because you people to sing your praises, lick your
shoes instead of telling you the truth. A typical Nigeria does not know he is
rich until he believes people know. He makes a little money and throws the
biggest party in town to spray money.
The Bible
describes Saul’s sickness in this way “possessed by an evil spirit.”
Inferiority Complex is an evil spirit.
Coming
down to our Gospel passage, we see Jesus continuing his work of healing. Great
crowds pressed upon him and he cured many of their diseases and cast out many
demons and when the evil spirits tried to sing his praises, Jesus shut them up.
Jesus was never about public opinion. Jesus knew he was God but was humble to
the end. Not even the evil spirits were allowed to make him proud.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, may I please you only. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Thursday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time: Bible
Study: 1 Samuel 18:6-9;19:1-7 and Mark 3:7-12).
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