DAVID’S DIRTY DEED: DELEGATE WISELY

“It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel… But David remained at Jerusalem.” ~ II Samuel 11:1

REFERENCE: 

II Samuel 11:1-15

It is usually said, “Don’t send a boy to do a man’s job.” The saying described David’s mistake when he sent Joab to fight the battle he should have led as a king. Most of Israel’s decisive victories came when David led his men’s charge (see II Samuel 10). God had trained his hands for war and his fingers for battle. However, he delegated his role but paid dearly for it.

It is right for leaders to delegate, but they should refrain from delegating specific duties. You are never to delegate yourself out of relevance or at the expense of the organizational good. Israel paid a hefty price for David’s decision to delegate what was his reserved duty as a king. Maybe he felt he now had strong hands or needed to take it easy, but that singular move cost him greatly.

Most leaders easily fall prey to this. The higher you go, the more you feel entitled to rest, ease, relaxation, and privileges. You begin to feel you need not soil your hands with some duties because you consider yourself ‘above’ them. No! Certain responsibilities must be maintained by you no matter how high you rise in leadership. For example, Peter said, “We can delegate the role of serving tables, but we must give ourselves to prayers and the ministry of the word.”

Consider the temptation of promotion or the traps of prosperity: David as a struggling young man, would not kill Saul, his rightful enemy, for he feared God. However, as a crowned king and CEO, he took the wife of an innocent man and plotted and sponsored his cruel death without any sense of guilt. Power can corrupt, intoxicate you, and make you feel invincible.

Have you been raised to a position of influence? Has your wealth or substance increased? Be careful so as not to get to a point where you stop doing the things you once did. Remember how you prayed when climbing your way up; now that you are up, don’t delegate prayer by paying a prayer warrior. Do those simple things that represent the core of your calling, endear you to men, and connect you to your family. Moses never delegated going to the mountain with God to Joshua, Aaron, or Hur. You can delegate duties but do it wisely.

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

II Kings 4:29-35 and Acts 6:1-6

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PRAYERS:

Lord, I ask for the grace to remain humble, useful, and pliable in Your hands, no matter how high I rise. It is said, “Whoever is too big to do small things is too small to be trusted with big things.” Teach me to know what I must do and never compromise on them, and give me the wisdom to know what I must delegate to be effective in my calling, ministry, family, business, or education. It is my earnest plea, in Jesus’ name.