Title
Leadership Relinquishes Privileges
Scripture
So the victory that day was turned into morning . . . for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved...”
(2 Samuel 19:2)
Devotional
Leadership relinquishes the privilege of personal preference and sorrows over corporate needs. As king, David’s responsibility as king surpassed his emotional need to mourn for his rebellious son Absalom. David was surely entitled to mourn, but he was not entitled to place his personal loss over the needs of the people. The greater the leadership responsibility is, the greater the loss of personal rights. Leadership cannot wear its emotions openly nor release its feelings freely. Leadership does not readily proclaim its weaknesses or infirmities. It never seeks pity or charity. You cannot openly lead through weakness. You lead and triumph through strength. David surely was permitted to mourn for his son, but not to the shame of the people he led. If you accept the call to lead, you must likewise accept the responsibility. Personal needs will have to be relinquished to the needs of those you have the privilege of leading.