David is proof of why we never settle for the bare minimum. We should never settle in our work, relationships, or any aspect in life.
God works in ways that we will never understand, and we live in a world that doesn’t get that. We live in a world that doesn’t care about God. And regardless of that, we as Christians have a job to do. We have to be the best we can be no matter what. We represent God. Why would we not want to be our best? And as hard as it is, going above and beyond is part of being the best we can be.
David went above and beyond. And as often as we talk about David being a man after God’s own heart, we don’t talk about how he showed that. He showed that in his inability to settle for the ordinary.
I read 1 Samuel 18:24-30 and all I could do was smile.
24 When Saul’s men reported this back to the king, 25 he told them, “Tell David that all I want for the bride price is 100 Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want.” But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight. 26 David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired, 27 he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king’s requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife. 28 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, 29 Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. 30 Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.
Not only did David complete his task early, but he also double what was asked of him. What’s my point?
My point is that when God gives you the ability to be extraordinary, He will allow you to do and achieve things that can’t help but be blessed. Saul’s plan was for David to die in this feat, but oh my… When God has a plan… When God plans, you need to get excited.
There are a lot of things going on in the world. A lot of things going on at your job that probably aren’t right. A lot of things going on in your social life that just doesn’t seem fair, right? But God has a plan. No matter how it looks, He can work it out. No matter how unfair leadership may be, He is working it out. No matter what, He’s got it.
God will do things for you that people can’t help but honor. Can you imagine that? Saul’s master plan was that David would die. David’s plan was to glorify God and do his best. And God’s plan was to use Saul’s plan to honor David.
So I guess my point is this: When other people mean you harm, don’t worry about it. God might just have honor lined up as your outcome. Truth be told, when you honor God, He honors you.