Swagging Without Substance

Youth Day

Sermon: Substance Over Swag

Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 Samuel 16:1–13 (ESV)

The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Introduction

Imagine with me for a moment:

There was a little boy on the playground, eager to play in a game of pickup basketball. But when it came time to choose team members, he was picked last. He was shorter and smaller for someone his typical age. He was not chosen because everyone thought he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the taller and bigger boys. But what if I told you that little boy was Steph Curry?

Does that make a difference?

Imagine you were the one on that playground, choosing a team.

Would you have chosen him?

Today, I want to talk about something more important than outward appearances.

The title of my sermon is "Swagging Without Substance."

Ours is a culture that values Swag over Substance.

We have become an All Show, with No Significance society.

We have Glitz Without Grit, Shine Without Substance, Flair Without Fundamentals, and Appearance Without Authenticity.

Like the captains choosing teammates on the playground, we choose based upon what we see on the outside, failing to examine what’s on the inside. We have become a people who are “Swagging Without Substance.”

Defining Swag

Swag is all about having style and being confident. Someone may say you have swag based on your outward appearance, your charm, and your charisma.

Swag's all about lookin' fly and feelin' yourself.

People might say you got swag if your fit's on point, you got that charm, and you just got that whole vibe goin' on.

Swag is drippin', sauce, steez, flair, vibe, flex, swank, groove, style, flow.

Did I say it right, Garrett?

In our scripture reading, David is overlooked because his older brothers had more swag than he did.

There is something known as beauty bias. Beauty bias is when people make decisions about someone not based on their skills or what they can do, but on their appearance. I believe that all of God’s children are beautiful, but if you fit society’s beauty standards—like having good hair, fair skin, or defined bone structures—studies show you’re more likely to get hired, receive awards, and make friends. Yet, looks can be deceiving.

In our text this morning, there's a story about not looking the part. Like Steph Curry, who was once considered too short to excel in basketball, David didn’t look like a king on the outside, but God chose him for what he had on the inside.

Let me caution you: think the grass is greener on the other side? Keeping up with the Joneses is not a new trend; it was present in Bible days.

THE HISTORY

Before the era of kings, Israel was led by judges, Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and Samuel. The judges, who were raised up by God, delivered Israel from its enemies and brought the people back to God. But you can miss your blessing by counting somebody else.

The Israelites saw that the surrounding nations had kings and they wanted one too. The elders of Israel approached the prophet Samuel and requested a king. Samuel prays, and God instructs him to anoint Saul, a tall handsome Benjaminite.

He looked like a king. He was tall. He was physically fit, and he towered head and shoulders above everybody else.

But herein lies the problem: Saul looked like the picture of a king, but he failed in accomplishing the duties of a king: he was disobedient to God's commands and did not fully trust and follow God's guidance. Consequently, God rejected Saul as king and chose David instead, calling him a man after His own heart.

There is a Congolese proverb that says, “A pretty face and fine clothes don't make the character.”

What’s on the outside doesn’t always reflect what’s on the inside. You can be absolutely beautiful on the outside but totally ugly on the inside. And the saying is true, “Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes all the way down to the bone."

Has anyone ever heard of Kathleen Battle?

Kathleen Battle is a renowned and beautiful opera singer. A beautiful black woman, she exemplifies how external beauty can mask internal flaws. Despite her immense talent and striking presence, Battle's career at the Metropolitan Opera ended in 1994 due to her unprofessional behavior. She was a difficult person to work with. There were reports of temper tantrums, arguments, and disagreements with colleagues. So much so that after 16 years of singing with the Metropolitan Opera, she was fired by the general manager.

I stopped by this morning to admonish you: if you are buying a car, look under the hood before you make the purchase.

Young people, if you are looking for friends, don’t let their swag cover up their lack of substance.

If you are looking for running buddies, don’t just look for the right vibe, also look for the right virtues.

If you are considering a job offer, evaluate the quality of the company's culture, not just the quantity of the salary offer.

If you are looking for running buddies, don’t just look for the right vibe, also look for the right virtues.

If you are voting for a candidate, research their policies and track record, not just their campaign promises.

Some of the biggest mistakes you make in life result from deciding based upon external qualities, without evaluating internal character.

Ask David about it:

He looked at Bathsheba and went after her. But he had to violate 4 of the commandments to get her.

Everything that looks good to you is not necessarily good for you.

Ask Samson about it:

Samson chose Delilah after he looked at her, but he got captured and died because of her.

Solomon chose many foreign wives after he looked at them and it brought pleasure to his eyes. But those many wives led him astray, causing him to worship other gods and eventually brought trouble to his kingdom.

Saul stands in the home of Jesse, charged to anoint the next king from among his sons.

Samuel sees Eliab and thinks, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands here before the Lord." Eliab had the swag, the drip, the sauce, the flow, the vibe of a king.

He had the look on the outside, but he did not have the requirements on the inside.

One by one, each of Jesse’s sons is paraded in front of Samuel, and one by one each is rejected.

Then, Samuel asked if there was anyone else. Dad then sends for little David, the shepherd boy working the field.

I wonder if there are any Davids in the house this morning.

Your blessings may be delayed, but that does not mean they are denied.

Take a look at this, David was already anointed as king by God, but he was not invited to his own anointing service by man.

Have you ever been there? It's your party, but you are not invited.

There’s a God-given blessing with your name on it. But human sight is keeping you from it.

Are there any Cinderellas in the house?

They have tried to put the shoe on your wicked haters, but the prince asked, “Is there anyone else in the house?”

The prince will be your husband, but you are not invited to the ball.

You are the king, even when you don’t get an invitation to your own anointing.

Unlike his brothers, David had something more important than external appearance.

David had more than swag. He also had substance.

Then I read later on in the chapter that David was ruddy, had beautiful eyes, and was handsome.

That means he not only had substance. David also had swag.

In a world that will have you Swagging with Substance, let me remind you that in God’s kingdom, you can have both.

I didn’t come today to discourage you from displaying your swag.

I came to remind you that in addition to swag, you can also have substance.

Being articulate doesn’t diminish your swag; it shows you also have depth in your bag.

Being intelligent doesn’t cramp your style; it means you have wisdom and can go the extra mile.

Being diligent doesn’t take away your charm; it shows you work hard and stay away from harm.

Being kind-hearted doesn’t mean you’re weak; it shows you have compassion, a strength, and are unique.

Being ambitious doesn’t make you vain; it means you’re striving and playing the game.

Being knowledgeable doesn’t make you a bore; it means you’re interesting and always looking for more.

Being thoughtful doesn’t dull your shine; it means you’re considerate and genuinely divine.

Being respectful doesn’t mean you’re tame; it shows you have manners and a respectable name.

Being disciplined doesn’t make you stern; it means you’re focused and ready to learn.

Being well-spoken doesn’t mean you’re stiff; it shows you’re articulate and can handle any riff.

Being well-read doesn’t make you square; it means you’re informed and aware.

You don’t have to give up swag when you have substance.

You can speak correct grammar and still have swag.

You can make all A’s and still have swag.

You can be kind and still have swag.

You can help others and still have swag.

You can be humble and still have swag.

You can be faithful and still have swag.

You can love God and still have swag.

You can be yourself and still have swag.

You are a king, even when you are not invited to your own anointing.

You are the King or the Queen even if you didn’t get an invitation to the ball.

Michael Jordan became one of the greatest basketball players ever, but he did not make the team in high school the first time he tried out.

Oprah Winfrey became a media mogul, but she was fired from her first television job as an anchor.

Tyler Perry became a successful filmmaker and playwright, but his first plays were not initially well-received by audiences.

Beyoncé became a global music superstar, but

Beyoncé became a global music superstar, but her group Girl's Tyme lost on the TV show "Star Search" before achieving success as Destiny's Child.

But not only. We serve a God who has swag and substance.

Jesus had swag: He was so slick he told the would-be disciples, a group of fishermen, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19)

Jesus had swag: He was so suave he told the crowd, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

Jesus had swag: He was so composed he told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25)

Jesus had swag: He was so poised he told Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

But he also had substance.

He healed the blind man, as he promised, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." (John 9:7)

He calmed the storm, as he commanded, "Peace! Be still!" (Mark 4:39)

He fed the five thousand, as he provided, "They all ate and were satisfied." (Matthew 14:20)

He walked on water, as he assured, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." (Matthew 14:27)

He raised Lazarus from the dead, as he declared, "Lazarus, come out." (John 11:43)

He forgave sins, as he affirmed, "Your sins are forgiven." (Luke 5:20)

He hung on a cross, died for my sins, died for your sins, and said, “It is finished.”

So walk like you got swag, but study so you can have confidence.

Dress like you got swag, but talk like you have substance.

Carry yourself like you have swag, but act like you also have substance.

Don’t apologize for who you are.

You are a chosen generation

A royal priesthood

A holy Nation

That shows forth the praise

You are a soldier in the army of the Lord

You are a servant of the most-high God.

You are the chosen

You are the elect

You are an heir to the throne

You are a follower of Christ

You're awesome!

You're fierce!

You've got style!

You're the bomb!

You're lit!

You're on fire!

You're rockin' it!

You're one-of-a-kind!

You are down!

You are killin' it!

You're slayin' it!

You're crushin' it!

You're bossin' it!

You're vibin'!

You're legendary!

You're the real deal!

You're unstoppable!

You're the GOAT (Greatest of All Time)!

You're drippin' swag!

You’re drippin' with finesse.