The Power of Earning InfluenceSample

The next leader from the Bible that I would like to discuss would be a man known as David. One of the most popular stories in the Bible, the young shepherd is known as the one who slayed the giant Philistine known as Goliath. But think about David’s life before he fought Goliath. Years before he was to become the King of Israel and Judah, David was a common shepherd. The youngest of his seven brothers, David was the only one who was not originally a soldier. While his siblings fought, he was left alone to tend to the sheep. To put it mildly, David was cast aside by his father, and looked down on by his older brothers. David, however, was charismatic, and had the remarkable ability to influence all who were around him.

When God sent Samuel to David’s father Jesse’s house to anoint the next king, each and every brother was first considered before David. But God knew that David had a heart like His own, and as such, David was anointed to become the next king. After the killing of Goliath, King Saul put David in charge of his army, where David gained many supporters. It was David’s powerful influence, along with the blessing of the Lord, that molded David from a simple shepherd into a great leader. I believe that David’s humble beginning and his strong determination was something that his people admired and looked up to.

In order to earn influence amongst your peers, it is wise to take a lesson from young David, and be both humble as well as bold. Stand out, and stand out for the right reasons, and your team will surely follow suit.

In what ways throughout David’s life do you believe his influence over others helped him? Why do you believe that he was chosen as king over his brothers?