David’s Heart And Leadership
In today’s scripture, we get a great glimpse into David’s heart and leadership. David going up against the Amalekites who had raided their town and taken their wives, children, and belongings. Two hundred of the six hundred men could not go on because they had not eaten or slept in 3 days. So the two hundred stayed with the supplies and remaining four hundred went on to battle, defeating the Amalekites. When the four hundred returned with all of their wives, children, and belongings, some of the men who went into battle expressed that the wives and children can go back to the two hundred who didn’t fight, but the belongings should not. But David quickly squashed this line of thinking, saying that “all will share alike.”
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Scripture:
“Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to battle. All will share alike.” – 1 Samuel 30:24
Observation/Application:
In this statement, he showed that he valued everyone on his team regardless of their role. The 200 who stayed behind and protected the supplies also played an important part. They may not have been strong enough to carry on, but that did not mean that they did not have equal worth. Practically speaking, his group was a machine, and while the engine might be the most important in the eyes of most, the steering wheel is a pretty critical component. But from a heart standpoint, he valued everyone.
As I read the verse, I could not help but picture David looking at the men who stayed with the supplies, and feeling for them during that moment, as worthy team members. He appreciated them, and they felt appreciated by his actions, his decisions, and by his words. What a great lesson. One of my favorite quotes to use with teams is, “team first”. One of the behaviors that will crush team performance faster than any other is selfishness. And selfishness becomes difficult to tolerate if you have a heart for others on the team knowing the negative impact that it has on everyone.
While great leaders have the greatest hearts for their people, they also live their lives as an example for them to follow. It is our job at the core. David provided this example for his people as a man after God’s heart. So how do we know the heart? The bible tells us to inspect the fruit. What are a person’s priorities? What words do they speak? How do they look at other people? Do they genuinely care for others? When you boil it down, if a person’s heart is no good, they are not good leader of relationship material. The heart is what matters. Jesus tells us this, and Jesus shows us this by how he lived so unselfishly, even to the point of giving his life for us.
The heart is critical to our lives, both physically and spiritually. Physically it pumps the blood through our bodies. Spiritually it is also the source for life by what flows through our hearts, good or evil. We can see this in how we live. While David was not perfect, he shows us his heart for others within his sphere of influence that made him a great leader. He does provide a great example of how the heart is the key to effectively leading those around us in wherever we have been called to lead.
Let our hearts first seek the Lord, then those around us, as we let the Spirit of the Lord will lead us in the way that we should go.
#They-Don’t-Care-What-You-Know-Until-They-Know-You-Care
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word today. Thank you for giving me another day to live on this earth and to do your work. Continue to fill us with your goodness, and help us to live a life worthy of your kingdom. Give us the heart of David when it comes to leading others. Help us to be a light unto your path. Keep us from evil, allowing only love, goodness, and mercy to flow through our hearts. We give you all the honor and glory and praise today and always, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Today’s full reading: 1 Samuel 30,31; 1 Chronicles 10; Matthew 12
Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:
- “But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” – 1 Samuel 13:14
- “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” – Matthew 12:33
- “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” – Matthew 12:34,35
- “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:37
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