I Samuel 9

Hook

You’re chasing "donkeys"—the urgent, tactical fires distracting you from your actual mandate. You’re so focused on the lost assets that you’re blind to the kingdom-level opportunity standing right in front of you.

Text Snapshot

I Samuel 9:3-5: "Once the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish went astray... Saul said to his servant, 'Let us turn back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and begin to worry about us.' But he replied, 'There is an agent of God in that town... let us go there.'"

Analysis

Insight 1: Don’t Let the Urgent Kill the Important

Saul was on a low-value errand (finding livestock), but his path was being orchestrated toward a high-value appointment. Founders often mistake "busyness" for "purpose." If you don’t have a mentor or advisor to tell you when your search for "donkeys" is keeping you from your "kingship," you will stay stuck in the weeds.

Insight 2: Listen to the "Servant" Perspective

Saul was ready to quit, but his servant saw the potential. The most valuable person in your C-suite is the one who refuses to let you settle for the status quo. If you aren't creating a culture where subordinates can challenge your "turn back" decision, you’re missing your own anointing.

Insight 3: Humility is a Competitive Advantage

Saul viewed himself as the "smallest of the tribes" I Samuel 9:21, yet he was chosen. True authority stems from an awareness of one's own limitations, not an inflated ego. This "imposter syndrome" kept him grounded while others fought for status.

Policy Move

The "Donkey Audit": Every Monday, require your leadership team to categorize their top 3 tasks: "Donkeys" (maintenance/tactical) vs. "Kingdom" (strategic/visionary). If "Donkeys" take up >70% of the week, the team is under-resourced or misaligned.

Board-Level Question

"What 'donkeys' are we currently chasing that are actually preventing us from reaching our next stage of growth?"

Takeaway

Stop optimizing for the lost assets. Start positioning for the mandate. Your biggest growth phase often begins exactly when you decide to stop looking for what you lost and start looking for who you’re meant to become.