David is a positive example when it comes to the leadership quality of serving. His leadership always included serving his team. 1 Samuel 30 reveals a good deal about the relationships and partnerships David had with his men. After he and his men defeated the Amalekites, there was a great deal of plunder to be divided. Some of his older soldiers, too tired to fight, had stayed behind and helped supply the front. For the troops who had actually fought, it would have been easy to say: If you didn't show up for the battle, you have no right to a share of the plunder! Surely some of his soldiers had that very thought. David defused this tension by calmly explaining to his men that God was the source of their victory and that everyone who had helped in any way had a claim to the plunder. Later, David turned this decision into policy for Israel. David clearly valued every partner in the equation. His leadership was about serving one's neighbor, not about amassing wealth and power for himself. Modeling this leadership quality accomplished a great deal of good in David's leadership.
The Results of David's Servant Leadership
- It helped others recognize every person's contribution.
Even the older soldiers who stayed in camp because they were too tired to fight made a contribution to the entire army. They guarded the supplies. David's way of valuing everyone's gift and contribution ensured that everyone kept their eyes on others, on the bigger picture, instead of dwelling on their own contribution.
- It reminded his men that God is the true source of every good gift.
David knew that letting everyone celebrate the victory and share in the plunder would help his men realize that God was the true source of the victory in any case. When people start counting who gets what, they tend to become preoccupied with themselves and with whether they are getting their fair share of the reward. David's servant leadership helped others see with God's eyes and trust him for their reward in life.
- It fostered the goodwill of potential partners — a resource David would later enjoy as king.
People soon realized that if you cooperated with David, he made sure you somehow came out ahead as well. This attitude fostered partnerships and a contagious spirit of goodwill among David's troops. When leaders are selfish, it fosters a selfish atmosphere among all those they lead. When leaders serve generously, that spirit of service spreads throughout the camp.
- It enabled David to prepare for the future by making friends throughout Israel.
When a leader serves today, it usually pays off tomorrow in relationships with others. David may not have been fully aware of it, but as his generous style spread, his servant leadership prepared the hearts of the citizens throughout Israel to follow him. He won them over. Sometimes small acts of kindness — ones not promoted by leaders — spread faster than staged acts performed on a platform. One feels authentic, while the other merely feels artificial.
- It developed a nationwide value of mutual benefit and good faith among the people.
After David became king, that same spirit of appreciation and service became the norm in Israel for a time. When leaders do not selfishly grasp for what they believe they deserve, trust grows among those who follow them. A sense of fairness for all takes hold. Instead of contagious selfishness, there is contagious service.
1 Samuel 30:17-24
17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
21 And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.
22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.
23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.
24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.