“Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.”
1 Samuel 18:12
After David killed Goliath King Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home anymore. Saul made him commander of his troops, an appointment that was applauded by the army and general public alike. And, he always carried out his assignments successfully.
But something had happened when the victorious Israeli army was returning home after David had killed Goliath. Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and were singing and dancing for joy with tambourines and cymbals. However, this was their song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” Of course Saul was very angry. “What’s this?” he said to himself. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” David continued to succeed in everything he undertook, for the Lord was with him. When King Saul saw this, he became even more afraid of him; but all Israel and Judah loved him, for he was as one of them. One day Saul said to David, “I am ready to give you my oldest daughter Merab as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real soldier by fighting the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought to himself, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.”
Some things have been the same since Cain killed Abel...
Jealousy is one. Jealousy urges us to want what others have. If the urge grows strong enough it leads to violence. Rather than inspire us to achieve, jealousy inspires us to steal. It’s so pervasive that God prohibited it in the tenth commandment...”thou shalt not covet.” Why? Because jealousy is really an emotion rooted in fear. Fear that we won’t “have” enough or that we won’t “be” enough...all determined by comparing ourselves to others.
As a result, the people who feel less privileged try to eliminate the perceived privilege of others. In South Africa, farms are being confiscated from land-owners. In the United States educational opportunities are apportioned to advantage underprivileged groups...at the expense of the privileged. This is all done in the name of diversity but...the actual goal is conformity or, elimination of privilege.
White privilege?
We know differences and privilege are not always “perceived .” They are often very real. And as the power of the underprivileged class grows, fear among the privileged grows as well. So...the privileged “others” attempt to minimize the differences by apologizing or downplaying the disparity.
But...what if the differences, or privileges can never be eliminated?
We believers are blessed with the Spirit of God dwelling within us (Ephesians 1:13). It makes us unique among the people of this world. This is a difference, and a privilege, that we cannot eliminate. Nor, should we. It privileges us with eternal life. It also reveals itself through countless daily blessing and miraculous occurrences that are not available to unbelievers because they do not have God’s Spirit living in them. This enrages many unbelievers. By their thinking, It’s simply not fair.
“Faith privilege”?
We shouldn’t be surprised. As we have all known for ages, people fear anything that is different from themselves. Jesus warned “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). As a church leader I have witnessed a growing hostility toward believers. We are now the most persecuted class on earth. As a result I have also observed a corresponding attempt, by fearful believers’ to minimize the differences as a means to reduce tension and danger.
This has never been...and will never be...a satisfactory strategy. The privilege exists. Pretending it doesn’t is a lie tantamount to denying the presence of God in us. With this in mind we must be vigilant to avoid the smugness that often accompanies good fortune...and nurtures jealousy. All we can really do is live in humility with the realization that the great privilege of inclusion in the Body of Christ is something we are not commanded to hide...but proclaim.
Still...It will get ugly.
Live boldly out there today...
