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Scripture
1 Chronicles 11:17-18 (NIV) 17 David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord.


Observation
This chapter of Chronicles introduces us to David's "mighty men." They were his inner circle... the finest and the bravest and the most trusted men in David's army. Their exploits became legendary. They were fierce in battle, and they were fiercly loyal to King David. On this occasion, David makes what was probably an off hand comment that he really didn't expect anyone to pay attention to. It would be like you or me saying, "Man, I could use a Starbucks right now..." We mean it, but we really don't expect people to respond to it. If someone were to hear that comment, get in their car, drive to Starbucks and get us our favorite latte mocha frappa whatever, we'd think they had made a real sacrifice to display such an unexpected act of kindness. But that pales compared to what these guys did. The water David was referring to was actually behind enemy lines! They went to battle, fought their way to the source of the water, and one would imagine they had to fight their way back out of enemy territory to get back to David. (I wonder how they made it through all that fighting without spilling the water....?) What a victory to be able to present to their king the gift of the water he craved, escpecially considering what they had to go through to get it! David was so overwhelmed by their act of caring and bravery that he could not drink it. Perhaps he felt unworthy to drink what they had paid such a heavy price for. Perhaps he felt guilty that his offhand remark had resulted in these close companions risking their lives for something as minor as water from a specific source (versus just any water that would quench thirst.) He saw their sacrifice as so precious that it was not something to be consumed, but something to pour out on the alter before God.

Application
This is a great reminder that as leaders we have to be careful about what we say. There are people all around us who watch us and listen to our every word. It is easy for our words to have unintended consequences if we are not careful. Probably if these men had offered to David to go get the water before they did it, David would have said, "Are you crazy? It's just water... it's not worth your lives." But they so wanted to honor and please their king that they just acted. As leaders we have to be aware of the same thing happening with us (OK, no one is going to get into a sword fight to bring us a bottle of Fuji water, but you get the idea...). A lot of people are eager to please, and can take casual comments to an extreme.

There is a greater danger that is more subtle. Leadership is power, and power can corrupt. It's possible that David knew exactly what would happen when he made that comment. But he would be able to maintain "plausible deniability" if anyone challenged him on it because he could say, "hey, I never told them to go get that water for me", knowing full well that as dedicated as these men were, as soon as they heard his comment they would move heaven and earth to make it happen. That is a real power trip that can entice and trap any leader. How many times as a leader are we tempted to drop hints about something, hoping someone would pick up on it and act? "Oh, it must be great to have a time share... I wouldn't know since pastors don't make enough to afford such things." Then two weeks later a voucher for a weekend at a time share shows up anonymously in our mailbox. You get the idea.

As a leader I have to be on guard for this attitude at all times. The Jesus model was that he came to serve, not to be served. I have to make sure all my words are those of a servant leader. Selfishness and indirect manipulation through the use of position is a sad and sick use of the leadership opportunity God has given me. I have to avoid even the slightest hint of that kind of behavior.

Prayer
Father please guard my heart and keep it pure before you. Keep my motives clean and my words measured so that I never yield to the temptation to misuse the authority you entrust to me. Keep my heart humble always.