Most of us have an innate desire to help others. We work overtime to ensure that the company meets an important deadline. The sound engineer makes sure the new church sound system is ready for the Sunday service. A young man loses his job and his father offers to pay his rent. These stories remind us that we occasionally underestimate our influence. In contrast, we can also use our positions or authority to negatively impact those who love and respect us—sometimes even inadvertently.
King David was camped near the cave of Adullam close to a Philistine detachment that was occupying the town of Bethlehem (1 Chronicles 11:15). When three men from the elite group of David’s fighting men arrived, he remarked, “‘Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.’ So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David” (1 Chronicles 11:17-18).
When David realized that his men’s loyalty had placed them in danger, he refused to drink the water and poured it out before the Lord. “ ‘God forbid that I should drink this!’ he exclaimed. ‘This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.’ So David did not drink it” (1 Chronicles 11:19).
Suddenly, David had comprehended the full impact of the words of a well-respected and much-loved king. His seemingly harmless declaration of desiring some water had resulted in three courageous men being placed in grave danger as they risked their lives to fulfill his request.
Whatever our roles, we all hold positions of authority or influence. Let’s seek to use our words with wisdom and be careful of our underlying expectations of others.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 12:37-50
More:
Read Proverbs 18:21 and note what it says about the power of our words. Read Psalm 141:3 and consider praying its words prior to leading others.
Next:
What have people risked for you because they love or respect you? In the roles you serve as a leader, how can you better understand the impact of your underlying expectations?
Gary Shultz on August 31, 2014 at 8:28 am
I’m sure you would also include our youngest members of society. Many of us hold or have held the opportunity to influence a younger life. Thanks
Mike Wittmer on August 31, 2014 at 10:21 am
This is a timely lesson. I think we often underestimate the influence of our words and lives on others. May God help us to weigh them before placing them upon the shoulders of others.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on August 31, 2014 at 11:20 am
Hello Gary and Mike. This story is a powerful reminder of the influence we all have over others, whether in our families, our friendship circles, church environment or in the work place. In the same way however, we would be wise to pause and consider who we are influenced by. We should never allow our loyalty to someone or our respect for them to cause us to do something that would endanger us or our loved ones.