Listened to a interview with Chuck Swindoll the other day. The man leaks humility and authenticity.  He may not be as flashy/funny/captivating/cool as many of the emerging pastors/communicators today, but he commands your attention in that you believe what he says.  If he says it, he believes it and it is compelling.  Check out his interview with the Catalyst bunch.

Furthermore, he is old. I mean that in a respectable sage kind of way.  Success and popularity hasn’t ruined him nor given him a big head.

It reminds me of the way King Saul started out:  1 Sam 9:18: “Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 19 “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?” 

21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”Samuel started off humble. Couldn’t believe that God would want to use HIM! He ended up full of jealousy and rage at other people’s success and popularity (David’s).  He lost his mind and eventually, his leadership role.   

Swindoll seems to be affected by hi success that way Godly people should be affected by success: with great humility that God, in his sovereignty, would use him. See Daniel 2:21