Stop Falling for the 'Head and Shoulders' Leader

1 Samuel 9:2
> "And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people."

Saul was the pick of the kingdom. Tall. Handsome. Head and shoulders above everyone else, literally. He looked like a king. He felt like a king. And the people loved him for it.

Here's the problem: Nobody asked about his heart.

Nobody checked his character. Nobody looked at his past. Nobody asked, "Does this man know who he is in God?" They just saw the packaging and said, "That's our guy."

Sound familiar?

We do the same thing today in ministry. We pick the polished over the pious. We choose the leader who looks the part instead of the one who lives the part. We go for the guy with the degree, the stage presence, the charisma: and then we're shocked when the character cracks show up six months later.

The truth? We pick "outward" leaders when we aren't secure in our own identity at the Table of Grace. When we don't know who we are in Christ, we pick people who make us feel like we're important by association. We want a king who looks good on the outside because we're still trying to prove we're worth something on the inside.

God gave Israel exactly what they wanted: a king like the rest of the world. But that's not what they needed.

Soon, God would give them David. A shepherd. A nobody. A kid who spent his days with sheep and his nights with a harp. But David had something Saul didn't: a heart that belonged to God.

1 Samuel 16:7
> "But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

When we know we're loved at the Table: when we're secure in the Finished Work of Jesus: we stop needing leaders who impress the world. We start looking for leaders who know God. We pick character over charisma. We choose the heart over the height.

I just posted a full deep-dive into how to avoid the Saul Trap and what it means for your ministry leadership today. You can read the whole thing here: The Saul Trap: Why a Polished Look is No Substitute for a Pious Heart.

Let's stop picking kings who look good and start picking shepherds who love well.

Why do we keep choosing the wrong leaders in ministry?
Because we're looking at the wrong things. We prioritize appearance, degrees, and stage presence over character, humility, and a genuine walk with God. When we don't know our own identity in Christ, we pick leaders who make us feel important instead of leaders who make Jesus known.

How can I tell if someone has real character or just a polished exterior?
Look at their past, not just their platform. Ask about their integrity when no one's watching. Watch how they treat people who can't do anything for them. Real character shows up in the hidden places: how they handle correction, failure, and the mundane work of faithfulness.

What does it mean to be secure "at the Table of Grace"?
It means you know you're loved by God apart from your performance. You're not scrambling for approval or trying to prove your worth. When you rest in the Finished Work of Jesus, you stop needing leaders who impress the world and start looking for leaders who reflect the heart of God. You can read more about this in The Big Leap of Faith: Believing God Loves You Exactly as You Are.