And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to [David]. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him. ~1 Samuel 22:2The men who David attracted while he fled from Saul eventually became like him. Some even killed giants, as he did – showing that what you are is what you reproduce. Observe what David teaches us about his leadership:
1. David attracted men even without pursuing them.
2. David drew deep loyalty from them without ever trying to get it.
3. David transformed these men without disenchanting them over their initial state.
4. David fought alongside these men and turned them into winners.
Consider the astounding exploits of some of these men. Second Samuel 23 tells us that Adino slew 800 men with a spear in one battle (v. 8); Eleazar struck down the enemy until his hand clung to his sword (vv. 9,10); Shammah defended a plot of ground against an enemy army (vv. 11, 12). David attracted men like him – souls in distress. He also reproduced men like him-warriors and conquerors.
Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
A merry heart does good, like medicine. Proverbs 17:22
I work with a lot of leaders. And one thing I’ve found is that many times they take themselves much too seriously. Of course, they’re not alone. I meet people in every walk of life who have too much doom and gloom in their attitudes. They simply need to lighten up. No matter how serious your work is, that’s no reason to take yourself seriously.
If any person had a reason to take his job and himself seriously, it would be a president of the United States. Yet it’s possible for even people holding that position to maintain their sense of humor and keep their egos in check. For example, when Calvin Coolidge was asked if he was attending the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the President answered, “Yes.”
“Why are you going, Mr. President?” a reporter asked. “As an exhibit,” answered the rotund Coolidge.
If you tend to take yourself too seriously, give yourself and everyone else around you a break. Recognize that laughter breeds resilience. Laughing is the quickest way to get up and get going again when you’ve been knocked down.
[tags]leadership, footsteps[/tags]