5 Values Of A Life-giving LeaderShembull

The life-giving leader is humble and hungry. In today’s passage, 1 Samuel 17:34, David is taking his first steps into public leadership as he answers the challenge of the Philistine, Goliath. When talking to King Saul, David explains that he is ready to face the task ahead because of his preparation as a shepherd defending his flock from lions and bears. Only God could have known that this work as a shepherd would be the very thing that propelled him into the position to save Israel from the attacking army. 

The key to David’s success as a leader was his recognition that nothing was beneath him and nothing was beyond him. He was happy to serve as a lowly shepherd, but also ready to step into the high capacity position of king when the time came. In every situation, David remained wholly dependent on God but unafraid to take on anything. 

How can we implement this principle in our lives? With King David as our example, we should strive to recognize that there is no action beneath us and no dream beyond. Whether in the small tasks we undertake to serve others or the roles we can only fulfill with the help of God, today we choose to stay hungry and humble.