After the Giant: Stewarding Victory, Walking in Patience, Leading with Mercy
After the Applause
On Monday, we stepped into the pasture with David and learned that anointing isn’t appointment—hidden faithfulness and training in obscurity shapes leaders long before the spotlight. On Wednesday, we faced the battlefield and discovered that giants aren’t barriers but gateways, calling us to courage, conviction, and craft under pressure. Today, we turn to the hardest test of all: success. Goliath’s fall wasn’t David’s coronation; it was the commencement of a new proving ground. Applause, influence, and opportunity can erode the very discipline that brought us here—unless we choose a different path. In this final part, we’ll explore why true servant leadership after victory demands the same humility that carried the sling, the same patience that endured the pasture, and the same mercy that spared Saul. Because the crown is not a prize to seize—it’s a trust to steward.
Goliath’s fall wasn’t David’s coronation. It was the commencement. The tests that followed—applause, envy, exile, restraint—would prove his fitness for the crown.
Integrity under provocation: David spares Saul in the cave, refusing to seize the throne by force (1 Samuel 24:4–7, NIV).
David had the perfect opportunity to end his exile and claim the throne. His men even urged him to strike Saul, framing it as God’s will. But David understood something deeper: God’s promise never justifies man’s shortcuts. By sparing Saul, David demonstrated that integrity matters more than expediency—even victory. For servant leaders, this means resisting the temptation to compromise values for quick wins—whether that’s cutting ethical corners in business or undermining a rival to get ahead. True leadership is proven when power is within reach, but restraint is chosen for the sake of righteousness.
The test of praise: “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise” (Proverbs 27:21, NIV).
Victory brings applause, and applause can be as dangerous as adversity. Praise reveals what’s in the heart: Will success inflate pride or deepen gratitude? David’s rise after Goliath drew songs of celebration, but he refused to let fame rewrite his identity. For modern leaders, the test of praise comes in promotions, awards, and public recognition. The question is: Will you deflect glory upward and outward—to God and your team—or hoard it for yourself? The furnace of praise refines humility, if we let it.
Quieted ambition: “I have calmed and quieted my soul… like a weaned child with its mother” (Psalm 131:1–2, NIV).
Ambition isn’t inherently wrong, but unbridled ambition corrodes the soul. David learned to quiet his heart, surrendering the timeline of his kingship to God. This posture of trust allowed him to wait without scheming and to lead without striving. For us, quieted ambition means resisting the urge to force outcomes—whether that’s chasing every contract, overextending resources, or manipulating circumstances. It’s choosing contentment in the present while preparing faithfully for the future. Spiritual maturity shows when we can say, “I’m ready when God says I’m ready.”
Remember in prosperity: “Beware… lest you forget the LORD… and say, ‘My power… has gotten me this wealth’” (Deuteronomy 8:11–18, NIV).
Success can seduce us into spiritual amnesia. When the pressure lifts and the revenue flows, it’s easy to believe the myth of self-sufficiency. God warned Israel—and by extension, us—not to forget the Source of every blessing. For leaders, remembering in prosperity means building rhythms of gratitude: pausing to thank God, honoring those who helped, and using our influence for others’ good. It means holding success with open hands, knowing that what we steward today belongs to Him tomorrow.
Appointment in due time: After years of patience and formation, David becomes king (2 Samuel 5).
David’s journey from pasture to palace spanned years of waiting, wandering, and warfare. Yet when the time was right, God fulfilled His promise. This reminds us that delayed does not mean denied. Leadership elevation is not a sprint; it’s a sacred trust delivered in God’s timing. For us, this means embracing the slow work of growth—developing character, deepening competence, and strengthening community—so that when the crown comes, it rests on a heart strong enough to bear it, not just a head big enough to wear it.
Bottom line: Success is a stewardship. After the victory, servant leaders embrace humility, honor, and patience. The same God who guided the stone from your sling must govern your success.
Post‑Victory Practices
Choose Restraint over Revenge
David sheathed the sword when he could have struck. After a win, resist settling scores or spiking the ball. Vengeance belongs to God (Deut 32:25), or in the immortal words of Joe Paterno, “Act like you’ve been there before.” Honor your competitors and critics for their efforts.
Build Altars, Not Pedestals
Mark the win with gratitude, not self‑promotion. Hold a brief “altar moment”: name what God did, who helped, and what you learned. Marking the waypoint with spiritual significance realigns your priorities and sets a reminder that God is who got you here—an important distinction for servant leaders.
Slow the Pace to Match the Weight
Big wins tempt us to overextend. Institute a time-delay throttle on major new commitments to protect quality and culture. Don’t overburden the team with extra processes, but at the same time, don’t overextend your logistics tail. Good servant leaders live in the happy medium between the two.
Return Credit, Retain Responsibility
Publicly credit your team and partners; privately own the follow‑through. Praise broadly; assign accountability clearly. And never forget that our actions speak louder than our words. If we as servant leaders are responsible for following through, let our witness be that we kept our word.
Guard the Heart from the Praise Test
Establish accountability rhythms (mentor/board check‑ins, Sabbath, journaling) so applause doesn’t become an addiction. Praise can be a drug that dulls the senses and distances us from the God who has perfect delivery. Accept praise but redirect it to God, the team, and your support structure.
Institutionalize Learning
Run an unblinking After‑Action Review: what worked, what didn’t, what to change—then codify into playbooks and SOPs. Servant leaders use this time to strengthen the team, demonstrate humility, and reinvest in the skills and relationships of our team. Be honest, be professional, but be kind. There’s a reason we catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Keep Practicing Your Sling
Don’t trade mastered fundamentals for flashy armor. Recommit to the core disciplines that won the day. While “what got us here won’t get us there” is true, servant leaders cannot forget the basics. Mastered fundamentals must remain foundational to our new approach.
Steward Influence for Others’ Good
Use new platform to lift others—mentor rising leaders, expand opportunities for the overlooked, invest in community. Starting at the After Action Review and continuing through the next performance evaluation, take every chance to lift others through good mentorship and training.
Lead with Mercy
David’s mercy toward Saul modeled a kingdom posture. Treat former rivals with dignity; choose reconciliation over humiliation. Showing mercy demonstrates the humility that aligns with God’s mercy for us. Like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) or the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), leading with mercy empowers those around us to trust us in good times and in bad.
Wait Well
Promotion came to David in due time. Practice patient leadership—move at the speed of wisdom, not ego. Remember, if you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plan. If you want to hear Him laugh uncontrollably, tell Him your timeline.
Applications for Business & GovCon
Post‑Award Discipline (Kickoff to Day‑90)
Hold a mission‑first kickoff/hand-off: revisit the problem, success criteria, and customer outcomes. Codify lessons learned.
Baseline scope, schedule, cost, and risks; align with QASP/SLAs. Prepare to excel in performance.
Publish a 30/60/90 execution plan with clear owners, weekly metrics, and verifiable goals. (Colossians 3:23-25)
CPARS Is Your Next Battlefield
Define CPARS targets (Quality, Schedule, Cost Control, Management, Small Biz Utilization).
Create a CPARS calendar for interim reviews. Correct issues early. Document results. Drive the evaluation train, don’t settle for being a passenger. (Luke 10:7)
Scale Without Cracking the Culture
Sequence hiring with funded work; establish a bench + surge plan. (Matt 25:14-30)
Mature subcontract management (flowdowns, check‑ins, earned value where applicable).
Watch OCI constraints across capture pipelines.
Cash & Risk Stewardship
Build a rolling 13‑week cash forecast; set aside reserves (e.g., 3–6 months payroll); manage the margins (Ruth 1-4).
Separate windfalls from operating budget; prioritize debt reduction and capability investment; leave margin for mercy.
Don’t Chase Everything After a Win
Reinforce bid/no‑bid gates; protect focus on winnable, relevant opportunities.
Say no to off‑mission work that dilutes competence or creates delivery risk. (Luke 14:28)
Honor in the Win
External comms: announce with humility, credit team & partners, and avoid disparaging incumbents.
If protested, respond factually and respectfully; win with integrity, lose with dignity. (Prov 10:9)
Operationalize Learning
Conduct a win debrief: turn insights into reusable boilerplate, solution patterns, and evidence libraries.
Capture customer voice (VOC) to refine delivery and future proposals. (James 1:19)
Develop the Bench
Convert victory momentum into mentoring and cross‑training. (2 Timothy 2)
Promote on character + competence; avoid premature elevation fueled by hype.
Mercy in Leadership
Treat former competitors fairly; explore teaming on future work when aligned with mission and ethics.
Internally, offer second‑chance pathways for employees who struggled but are coachable. (Romans 3:23)
Governance that Grounds You
Schedule quarterly board/mentor reviews: health metrics, culture pulse, risk heat map.
Protect rhythms of rest so leaders don’t burn out right after the win. (Exodus 20:8)
Reflection Questions
Where do I need to sheath the sword—show restraint instead of retaliation after a win?
What would an “altar moment” of gratitude look like for my team this week?
Which core fundamentals (our “sling”) must we recommit to so success doesn’t erode competence?
How am I guarding my heart against the test of praise? Who has permission to tell me hard truth?
What’s one decision I should delay 30 days to ensure wisdom guides pace, not ego?
If God doubled our influence tomorrow, what systems or character gaps would crack first—and how will we shore them up today?
Who can we lift with our new platform—an employee, partner, or community we can tangibly bless?
Where can we practice mercy toward a former rival or an internal teammate?
“The same faith that felled your giant must govern your victory.”
Closing
After the giant, the real work begins. Steward the win with humility, patience, and mercy—so the crown rests on a heart strong enough to bear it.
From the pasture to the battlefield to the throne, David’s journey teaches us that servant leadership is not a sprint to status but a lifelong posture of humility. In Part 1, we learned that anointing isn’t appointment—God shapes leaders in obscurity before He trusts them with influence. In Part 2, we saw that adversity is not a barrier but a gateway—giants refine our courage, conviction, and dependence on God. And now, in Part 3, we’ve discovered that ascension brings its own tests—praise, power, and prosperity—that demand stewardship, patience, and mercy. The same faith that carried the sling must govern the crown. For modern leaders, this means anchoring every season—hidden, hard, or honored—in the biblical tenets of integrity, humility, and grace. Because in God’s economy, leadership is never about the throne we sit on, but the hearts we serve along the way.
