“And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate.” So the three broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David.”
1 Chronicles 11:17, 18
Those three mighty warriors had such love for David that they risked their own lives just to give him what he longed for — a drink of water from the well of Bethlehem. What incredible love and commitment! When the men brought the water to David, he was so overwhelmed that they would risk their very lives, he could not drink it. Essentially, he was saying that his desire for water was not worth the risk of the lives of his mighty men. His refusal to drink it was not ungratefulness but an act of humility. He could not allow his selfish desire for that special water to further influence his men. Their lives were more important than temporal satisfaction.
To find such love and commitment in today’s world is rare. Who today would risk their lives just to give their leader a drink of water? It really is crazy when you stop to think about the incredible risk those three guys took. I believe that David reaped what he sowed in his loyalty to Saul. Even when he had opportunity to retaliate against Saul’s attempts of murder, David honored the king. There was not a chance David was going to take revenge though his men urged him on to do so. His real motivation was his love of God. David, a man after God’s own heart, did not want to kill the man God had raised to be king over His people. No matter how evil Saul was, David knew that it was not his responsibility to change things, only God’s.
Herein is the lesson. If we desire loyalty we must give it for a man reaps what he sows. To be sure there will always be traitors and scoundrels, David had them as did the Apostle Paul, and even Jesus had Judas! However, if we do the right thing God will honor us among men. In all this we must be careful against becoming man-pleasers. Yet if our hearts are right before God we won’t care about pleasing men, nor will we need to do so. God will give us favor with the right men for the right reason.
Take inventory of your past relationships with leaders. Were you loyal to them or did you betray them in word or in deed? Confess any disloyalty to God and where it is necessary and possible humble yourself and go ask forgiveness.
