Sacrificial Leadership

Scripture: The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased." 2 Samuel 19:4-6

Observation: While David believes he is grieving over the death of his son, Joab councils him differently. Joab calls out the fact that David is actually grieving the death of the traitor killed in battle, and thus by that grief is shaming all the loyal men who defeated Absalom. In other words, David is creating a scenario where he is actively shaming those people who sacrificed everything to support him. As Joab tells David, he must set aside his emotions. As king, David must support those who have supported him, or else he will drive them away.

Application: Leadership always involves setting aside personal feelings and placing the needs of others ahead of yours. For David, the faithful followers needed to be honored and rewarded for defeating a traitor. The fact David needed to mourn his son didn't matter.

I keep a piece of paper taped to my PC monitor at work. It is titled 'Leadership Concepts'. The entire paper is less than 3x4 inches and has only 51 words on it. The most poignant points are laid out thusly:

Quit Worrying About What is Fair
          Surrender your advancement
          Sacrifice for others
          You cannot have comfort

This is the lesson Joab is telling David. David doesn't get to care about himself, he must care for those who care for him. This is what I think about every day - my leadership position means I can't care about myself, but must care about others. I can do this because I know another truth ... God will take care of me when I care for the flock he has placed in my care. My care for others is my faithful love of God personified in love for others.

Prayer: Lord, again I am reminded that my relationships on earth are really about my relationship with you. I am reminded that loving others more than I love myself is simply a way of loving you. May I keep everyone in an elevated place of importance today, and may I serve them with your love, so that they may see the results and worship their father in heaven. Amen.