Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 2 Samuel 14:25
Tremendous gifting can lead into dangerous situations if the person lacks maturity, humility, and healing. Most just see the ‘gift’ and are immediately attracted to them. What people don’t see is the heart of the individual. Absalom’s father was chosen as king for his heart… not his ‘giftedness’. (1 Samuel 16:7) Absalom had an unhealed and unattended emotional wound around his sister Tamar who had her virginity stolen. Absalom also needed to work out his wound with his father. But Absalom was STILL very ‘gifted’, just ‘unhealed’. Unfortunately, we have many gifted and unhealed people in leadership positions of ministry. The gift is obvious and attracts people but the unhealed wound is usually buried deep within their soul. And the gift creates access before their character creates capacity. They enter into spaces and positions they’re not ‘prepared’ for… because the wound eventually starts driving decisions that the gift made possible.
Absalom was strategic, relational, magnetic – AND handsome! People were naturally drawn to him. But at the heart of Absalom was a man using his ‘gift’ to influence trying to fill a hole only God could heal.
Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:6
Did you catch it? The word ‘stole’. Not… was given… but ‘stole’. Leaders who ‘take’ instead of ‘earn’ are always operating from a place of lack, not overflow. This is far too prevalent today in leadership. And this is what broken gifted leadership looks like. They ‘draw’ people but never develop them. They build big platforms, and ministries, and resist accountability. They want AND need the validation of their followers because something inside of them never received what it needed from the Father.
There is a difference between following someone whose gift compels you … and being in a genuine covenant with someone whose character … holds you. Real leadership holds you even after everyone else leaves.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Proverbs 11:3
True integrity, and real humility is what leads and guides… NOT GIFT! Not platform size. Not the number of followers. If you do have a gift … don’t let it outrun your need for healing. Sit with the Holy Spirit, and ask Him to search your heart and deal with what He brings up. Deal with that deep seated wound before it shapes what your gift is building.
IS the Holy Spirit the One who is in the lead of your life? Or are you just the co-pilot? Are you just asking the Holy Spirit to play ‘back up’ for you? Have you submitted your gift to Him? Have you submitted your heart to Him? Which one usually leads?
Which is more important to you… character and integrity? Or the ‘praises of people’? More than money? More than the attention of the masses? Or the statement from the Lord “well done – good and faithful”?
I have seen many with really big and shiny gifts, but also unfortunately many with very little character, integrity, or humility. We need to admit to God AND ourselves we need healing. Checking in with the Holy Spirit for our need of healing should become a regular occurrence in our lives. Don’t allow your unhealed wounds to shape the gifting God has given you.