Last week, we established the definition of prominence, and the mindset someone who wants to journey on the path of prominence must have.
This week, we’ll be looking at the concept of ‘Getting Ahead’, as an important part of the journey to Prominence.
Open your heart to receive and understand as you continue reading.
What does it mean to Get Ahead?
To Get Ahead is to become successful in life or career. It is to prosper, flourish and thrive in life’s endeavor.
This write up will be focusing on the story of David; despite being the last of Jesse’s eight children, yet he was able to get ahead, and he became a force to reckon with in the whole of Israel.
We can deduce a good number of facts from 1 Sam 17:1-58. We saw that the Israelites’ arch enemy, Goliath, the captain of the Philistine army always boasted, oppressed them, and defiled the God of Israel. He always challenged them to battle.
Three of David’s elder brothers: Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah were in the army of Israel. Their father, Jesse, sent David to the battlefield to go check his brothers’ welfare and to give them food. In the process, David got interested in the battle, got involved and took it upon himself to challenge Goliath to battle.
The conclusion of the story was how David killed Goliath with a sling and a stone. He gained fame, the people’s love, and became prominent.
There are a whole lot of things to learn from David on how he got ahead of his brothers and everyone else in Israel during his time, we’ll be looking at a few of them.
1. His Calling:
According to 1 Sam 16:1 – Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”
David was called after he was forgotten. Jesse presented all his sons to Samuel, except David. But God did not choose any of them, until they called for David and Samuel anointed him. (1 Sam 16:11)
There is a calling of God on everyone, not necessarily for pastoral work. Joseph for instance was not called to be a pastor but was called as the deliverer of Israel. The general call of God on everyone is a call to a place of purpose. This is that area of your gift that is unique to you, if you can discover it and grow on it, overtime, you will get ahead in life, and become prominent.
There will be opposition to your calling. Like David, you must believe in yourself even if no one else acknowledges your call/gift.
2. His Character:
One thing about your character is that it will always stand you out, either positively or negatively.
In 1 Sam 18:7 – So, the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
The literary meaning of that song meant that the women considered David ten thousand times better than king Saul.
The key success factor for David, apart from the anointing of his calling, was his character – (discipline). David had the discipline to do what he was supposed to do, when, and how to do it consistently even when no one was watching. He also had the humility to not allow the praises of the people get into his head. He was discipline to not allow distraction.
Character formation starts from the heart. He watched his father’s sheep to the point that he put his life on the line to kill a bear and lion. He didn’t kill the lion or bear so that people could clap for him or reward him with a medal or promotion of any kind, he was just doing his job faithfully.
Your character should be consistently good in spite of who is watching or who isn’t. Do what you do wholeheartedly and see yourself get better and get ahead. (Col 3:23 – And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.)
3. His Courage:
Courage is your ability to step up to something or situation that frightens you. If you must get ahead and be prominent in life, you must be ready to face your fears and confront your challenges.
It took a lot of courage for David, a teenage boy, to fight a giant – Goliath. Courage stirs you up to pursue your purpose and get ahead in life. Learn to speak courageously and confidently; and confess the word of God – the word of hope (1 Sam 17:46-47). This will help build your courage progressively.
One of the reasons many people lack the courage to face their fears and confront their challenges is that they do not have a full understanding of the cause and consequence of their inaction. David said in 1 Sam 17:29 that “is there not a cause?”
If you know the consequence(s) of not facing your fear courageously, you will give it all it takes to get ahead at all cost.
Say this prayer: I receive divine empowerment to get ahead in life.
