One of the blessings as well as one of the curses of leadership is that the leader has to make decisions. The saying is that "Everything rises and falls on leadership!" Men and Women become leaders in many ways. Some seek to be in charge, some have the responsibility thrust on them, and some reluctantly must take charge and lead. Regardless of how a person becomes a leader, good leadership is based upon a person's ability to make the right decisions at the right time. Although many times these are big decisions, most of the decisions are small decisions that have large consequences. So learning how to make good decisions is essential in good leadership. Often the decisions will affect people's lives and destinies! Many times, a small decision has an eternal consequence!

King David is an example of a great leader. If you study his life from a leadership view, you will see that he made many good decisions. However, you will notice that he made one very bad decision that he never got over and that cost him and the nation of Israel for generations. This was the matter of Bathsheba.

2 Samuel 11:4 "And David sent messengers, and took her: and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house."

That was the sin that he committed, but the bad decision is back in 2 Samuel 11:1

"And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."

The bad decision was that it was time to go to battle and David didn't go! If I was going to comment on the first three kings of Israel and use the briefest expression to as what their main problems were and what it was that caused their downfall, I would say that they quit! King Saul quit totally believing (I Samuel 13:13); King David quit battling (2 Samuel 11:1); and King Solomon quit building (1 Kings 9:1, 11:1)! All of their mistakes came from ceasing to continue. Inactivity brings about disobedience and produces major problems which leads to failures!

One of the advantages of being a Bible believer and reader is the fascinating way the Bible uses to give us the ability to make good decisions. One of the ways the Bible does this is by revealing the sins and mistakes of major Bible characters. This study is a look at the first king of Israel, Saul. I have learned a lot about Saul. When I was a young Christian, God revealed to me from Bible reading that I had a lot of the same character flaws that King Saul had! Ever since then, I have studied and meditated on his life as revealed in the Bible. I believe God used that to change and remake my character so that I have not made the same mistakes that King Saul made. My prayer is that this study will help you to become a better leader and maybe make good decisions.

Saul shows up in the Bible in 1 Samuel 9 and then dies in 1 Samuel 31. The insight into his life and the bad decisions he makes and continues to make is very instructive. Saul is an interesting character. There is still debate today on whether he will be in heaven or not. I cannot make that determination. I know that I am saved, but I can only go by your testimony as to whether you are saved! We know that God took his Spirit from him. We know that he had a bad testimony. One of the hardest things to do is conduct a funeral of a person whom you don't know for certain if they are saved. The lesson to learn is to not leave a questionable testimony as to your salvation by making bad spiritual decisions! Abraham's nephew, Lot, also left a bad testimony. If all we had was the Old Testament account of Lot, we would think he was lost. In 2 Peter 2:7 he is called "just Lot" and in 2 Peter 2:8 he is "that righteous man"! At your funeral, we want to tell your relatives that you trusted Christ as your Savior and lived for Him your whole life! We can't say that about king Saul.

I am still learning from King Saul. Recently, I noticed that one of King Saul's mistakes was that he was obsessed on what he thought was a personal enemy and quit fighting the Lord's enemies. I have found out that if you will fight the Lord's battles, God will fight your personal battles. It was such a problem for Saul that he could not see the other problems that he had to take care of. Another thing I have found out is that a leader cannot just concentrate on one area. Ecclesiastes 11:1, 2 says "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth." The common expression is "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket!" A leader doesn't choose his problems. They just come to him.  Job 3:26 describes it perfectly! "I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came." The idea is to use your time to serve God. For me it is doing electrical work for the church and people that need it. I also do my job at work, but I take time to tell people about Jesus. I also try to encourage people at church. I spend time with my mother. I also use my free time to write. I spend time praying and reading the Bible. I invite people to church and try to counsel the young people to live for God. I go to the VA nursing home. Sometimes, they let me preach and I take it seriously. Good leaders have a lot going on and they help others. One of the keys to finding good leaders is to look for people that are busy. Of course, Jesus set the example with his revolutionary concept of servant leadership. I let my boss know that the reason he is my boss is so that I can do my job better. The purpose of a pastor is to lead and feed the sheep, not himself! The pastor's job is not to fleece the flock for his own benefit. I am amazed at the way God leads us. He doesn't feed us directly many times. He takes us to green pastures and lets us feed there! He does the leading and we do the feeding!

Saul is introduced in the Bible as a good son that is given the responsibility to find some lost donkeys. It is instructive to notice that he never completes that job! Someone else finds the donkeys.

1 Samuel 10:2 "When thou art departed from me today, then thou shall find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at  Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying What shall I do for my son?"

 Part of good leadership training is to finish the job. Some one that has lots of ideas but no follow through does not make a good leader. He may be a good teacher, but that doesn't make him a good leader. A leader has a purpose. The purpose is to finish. Starting things and never finishing is a bad character trait that will cause much confusion in the life of the Child of God. God finishes things and expects us to also.

Notice also that Saul has spent all his money. A person who doesn't have a handle on his finances will not be a good leader. A good leader knows how to manage money well! He is not a hoarder, but a good giver and saver for later.

1 Samuel 9:7 "Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present for to bring to the man of God: what have we?"

 A good leader does not spend all his money on his journey. He may give it all away or spend it on others, but not on himself. Notice the difference in the life of David. When David is sent to take something to his brothers, he finds someone to take care of the sheep. He doesn't leave them defenseless. He thinks ahead to see the results of his actions.

1 Samuel 17:20 "And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle."

I know that these are little details, but it is the little details that either make the leader or break the leader! The little things are the big things in God's view:

Luke 16:10 "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."

The real insight into Saul's character is when they are going to anoint him to be king. They can't find him. He is hiding among the stuff.

1 Samuel 10:22 "Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff."

 Many Bible commentators say that Saul started out humble and then pride came in and ruined him. They use the following verse.

1 Samuel 15:17 "And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?"

Saul wasn't humble, but he didn't think much of himself. While I was taught that this was because he was humble, I don't think this is accurate. I see Saul as a coward. Notice how many times it says that he was afraid (see 1 Samuel 15:24, 17:11, 18:12, 15, 29, 28:5, 15, 20). God used this to build boldness in me as a young Christian. As I studied Saul, I saw a lot of the same things in me that were in Saul. I was a coward! I didn't want to turn out like Saul, so I started working on these things. Over time God has improved and changed my character and given me boldness in certain situations. Cowardice is thinking about yourself and what others think of you. Saul never got over this. His whole miserable reign was about himself! Every problem he saw as one that someone was against him and out to get him! A good leader realizes he is in charge to make sure the followers succeed! It is not about him! It is about them!

The first mistake that King Saul makes is not waiting on God. Sometimes taking matters in your own hands is not the best decision. I have found that I don't have the authority to make some of the needed decisions. Saul was not the priest or the prophet. He did not have the authority to make the sacrifice. The old preacher said, "God's train may run slow, but it is always on time!" It is very important to learn patience. Patience is essential for leadership. You can't let the pressure of the situation force you into making the wrong decision! Another great saying from an older man of God was, "The problem is that I am in a hurry and God is not!"

1 Samuel 13:8-10 "And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings, And he offered the burnt offering.

And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him."

Notice Samuels response and Saul's excuse:

1 Samuel 13:11-14 "And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gigal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee; for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee."

Notice the difference in David when he had the chance to kill Saul. It was in his power to do it. He, however, realized that it was God who sets up and removes the rulers. He wanted no part of it.

1 Samuel 24:6 "And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD."

As a leader it is extremely important to know where your authority ends. Some decisions you do not have the authority to make. Don't make these decisions. Some decisions you must make and you must make good ones.

Read 1 Samuel 13:11 and 12 again and notice who Saul blames. He blames the people, then Samuel, then the enemy, and then God! Everyone but himself. It is important as a leader to place the blame on yourself. If you had made the right decision the outcome would be different.

Another bad character trait brought out about King Saul is his bad ability to misinterpret God's words and plan for him! You can learn a lot from his excuses. He always blames the situation and others for the bad mistakes. He never blames himself. Also, it is interesting that he is very pious in the way he brings God into it! Over the years, I have seen people 'manufacture' the will of God for themselves! It is very important as a leader to recognize if it is God leading you or you making up something to impress others. Making things up may make you look good for the moment, but over time leads to confusion as to what it is that God wants you to do.

Another bad character trait that will ruin a leader is blaming his mistakes on others. For some, when things fail, the next step is to see who can be blamed!  I tell these contractors that that I work with, that I am the best friend that they have. What I want them to know is that I am with them to get the job done right and the fire alarm working so that it will detect a fire! Whatever it takes, together we will finish the job! Fix the problems not the blame!

One of the lessons to be learned from the bad decisions that Saul made is to not just concentrate on one thing. Especially what you think is the problem. The purpose of good leadership is to get others to be the best they can be. They are doing many things that help the organization succeed. I always thought that the verse in Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." is a great leadership verse! I think this vision has something to do with supervision. It is the leader's responsibility to provide oversight. Notice how keeping the law is involved. There are certain rules that need to be observed. In the Fire Alarm world this is called 'the code.' Fire Alarms must meet the provisions of 'the code.' Also, someone is in charge. And not just in charge but providing a mission and a glimpse into the future when success will happen. Many times this is the Fire Marshal. He is there to make sure the code is followed and interpreted correctly. In good times as well as bad people have to be able to see the future. In bad times they need to see what it will be like when things get better. In good time they need to see what will happen if they let up and don't finish. Or if they quit and things then fall apart. A leader must plan for the time that he is no longer on the scene. He must prepare others to lead. Saul made the mistake of thinking David was his enemy, when David was actually being prepared to lead when Saul passed off the scene. One of the biggest responsibility of leadership is to properly train others for leadership. Sometimes the one that you think is your biggest enemy is actually your best friend. When I was installing fire alarms, I was given a large complex to put the fire alarm in. It was a lodge, that consisted of three large buildings. One was a restaurant, one was a visitor center, and the other was a hotel. When I got to the job I met the electrician that I was to work under. He said, "We always have problems with the fire alarm people." He was starting the process of placing blame on the first day of the job! I told him that he didn't know me and that if he would work with me, we would make sure that the job was done correctly and on time. At the end of the job he thanked me because that is just what happened. I learned a lot by going through the problems that occurred on that job.

Saul never learned the lessons of leadership. When he gets to the last days of his life, he is still not waiting on God. By then God is not answering his prayers and so he goes to a woman that conjures up Samuel from the dead. Totally against the will of God. He is defeated in battle and commits suicide. What a horrible way to end a career. It started and ended with bad decisions!

My prayer is that I will learn from the bad decisions that Saul made and not make them myself. My prayer for you is that you will learn the tools of leadership: Communication, Cooperation, and Charity; will have the character traits of leadership: Courage, Confidence in God, and Consistency; and will learn to make good decisions.