Text: 2 Samuel 5:1-5
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:5–7)
We live in a society where people are obsessed with titles, yet a title never defines a true leader.
Titles might make us feel important. They can speak of rank and symbolize positional authority. Titles give us the appearance of looking more credible, accomplished, influential, or even more powerful. But titles are not a litmus for true leadership. In fact, many people with titles are not leading well, while others without titles are leading and influencing in ways Jesus prescribed for His followers (see John 13:1-17, Luke 22:25-27).
David was demonstrating real leadership in Israel long before he was ever given a title. He was no West Point dignitary the day he took on the mighty Goliath and handed his people a great victory—just a ruddy teenager who had been with God. He didn’t have a military rank, as did the others standing on the sideline of the battle in fear. His courageous leadership came not from an elite position, but from an abiding union with God. Years later, when he was finally crowned king over the entire house of Israel, the biblical writer gives us this account:
[1] Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. [2] In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” [3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. [4] David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
(2 Samuel 5:1-4)
Did you notice the contrast? It says that Saul had a title (“king”) but it was David who “led out and brought in Israel.” Long before David became king over Israel, he had been leading and shepherding without any positional authority. There are many ways that you can be a leader without a title, but every one of them will require humility and the willingness to “empty” ourselves of selfish ambition.
You have to be content with influencing and inspiring without getting the recognition, mobilizing and helping people succeed without receiving something in return, and serving others for no other benefit than simply their wellbeing and enrichment. As President John Quincy Adams put it: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
We are all capable of leading without a title or positional authority. We can start where David started. Whether he was keeping the sheep all alone in the pastures, confronting a bully in the community, or later mobilizing teams on military missions, he always practiced a deep and abiding union with God, which kept him humble and ready to serve others in ways that were rare and countercultural. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us to get beyond our need for titles, positions, ranks, and recognition. Satiate our hearts with that unadulterated passion to simply love You and serve others well, from a sincere and genuine posture of humility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
- In your life, who has been a person that has influenced you and led well without an official title? How did they do it? What were their characteristics?
- How can titles be healthy or unhealthy forms of identity? Take some time to ponder some of the positive things that titles represent, while also considering some of the negative things they can produce in our human nature.
- Of what common history did the leaders of Israel remind David when they came to make him king? (2 Samuel 5:1-2) What two reasons made it logical for Israel to make David their king?
- As the people did with David, why is it better to be asked to assume leadership as opposed to establishing yourself by force?
- Where might you need more humility in leading, influencing, or serving others? In what ways can you demonstrate leadership without a title?
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Text: 2 Samuel 5:1-5
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:5–7)
We live in a society where people are obsessed with titles, yet a title never defines a true leader.
Titles might make us feel important. They can speak of rank and symbolize positional authority. Titles give us the appearance of looking more credible, accomplished, influential, or even more powerful. But titles are not a litmus for true leadership. In fact, many people with titles are not leading well, while others without titles are leading and influencing in ways Jesus prescribed for His followers (see John 13:1-17, Luke 22:25-27).
David was demonstrating real leadership in Israel long before he was ever given a title. He was no West Point dignitary the day he took on the mighty Goliath and handed his people a great victory—just a ruddy teenager who had been with God. He didn’t have a military rank, as did the others standing on the sideline of the battle in fear. His courageous leadership came not from an elite position, but from an abiding union with God. Years later, when he was finally crowned king over the entire house of Israel, the biblical writer gives us this account:
Did you notice the contrast? It says that Saul had a title (“king”) but it was David who “led out and brought in Israel.” Long before David became king over Israel, he had been leading and shepherding without any positional authority. There are many ways that you can be a leader without a title, but every one of them will require humility and the willingness to “empty” ourselves of selfish ambition.
You have to be content with influencing and inspiring without getting the recognition, mobilizing and helping people succeed without receiving something in return, and serving others for no other benefit than simply their wellbeing and enrichment. As President John Quincy Adams put it: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
We are all capable of leading without a title or positional authority. We can start where David started. Whether he was keeping the sheep all alone in the pastures, confronting a bully in the community, or later mobilizing teams on military missions, he always practiced a deep and abiding union with God, which kept him humble and ready to serve others in ways that were rare and countercultural. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, help us to get beyond our need for titles, positions, ranks, and recognition. Satiate our hearts with that unadulterated passion to simply love You and serve others well, from a sincere and genuine posture of humility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
Subscribe to “Abiding In Him” and get the latest devotional in your Inbox once a week.