I Samuel 18:12
“Now Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had left Saul.”
I'm going to focus on something slightly different. We will always have those that are more successful around us. In this passage, it's because Saul was disobedient. However, we can be right with God and others will be more successful. How are we to respond?
We aren't to be envious, but to be content with God's lot for us. I Timothy 6:6 says, "Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain." We are to do our best with what God has given us and be grateful for it. We do have a natural drive to be the best. However, we are to sacrifice that. Matthew 16:24 says, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'" Personal drive is fine as long as it doesn't turn into envy. That we are to deny.
Contentment is able to rejoice with the success of others. We've all been gifted to particular levels. Some will have more than us. Cheer them on. Jonathon did this for David. He knew David was God's anointed and he was fine with that. He completely supported him. Saul should have done that.
Saul was envious to the point of fear. We can have those feelings. If we are in disobedience, then repent. If we are right with God, then ask Him to remove those feelings and give us contentment. He will answer in time. Sometimes we need to rejoice with others by faith. We'll feel the fear, but act as though we were content and rejoice with them. God will match those feelings.
Saul was trying to keep his kingdom together. He had the order turned around. We are to be right with God at our core, then our world organizes. Saul was trying to keep his world in order, while his relationship with God was not. If we find ourselves in that state, repent. Revelations 2:5 says to "...repent and do the first works again..." We can deviate from His path. Turn around and go back.
Lord, while Saul was a painful lesson, thank You for it. Help us to stay close, be content and rejoice with the success of others.