Armchair
Warriors 04-28-17
Armchair warriors often fail.
Two short passages of
Scripture.
1 Chronicles 11:17-19 (ESV) 17 And David said
longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of
Bethlehem that is by the gate!”
18
Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the
Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and
took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out
to the LORD
19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I
should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of
their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did
the three mighty men.
Here's another one.
2 Samuel 11:11 (ESV) 11 Uriah said to
David, “The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the
servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house,
to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul
lives, I will not do this thing.
Just some thoughts today. This was
provoked by an article I read this week about "old blood and guts." General
George Patton. I read where he had actually been shot in the leg as a tank
commander while LEADING his men in battle,actually ENGAGING the enemy physically
on the battlefield. That type of leadership is in scarce quantity these
days isn't it? I thought about the saber rattling that seems to never end. It's
always easy for men or women to send OTHER MEN OR WOMEN into battle. As the
saying goes "their guts,OUR BLOOD!" That was never so true as the war of my
generation.We saber rattled in a small non descript oriental country and talked
a good game for fifteen or so years didn't we? The guts of folk who sat in ivory
towers,the blood of 58,000 and change. I only hope and pray that if we once
again go over there,we do it with resolve. As "old blood and guts" reportedly
said that he would LEAD his troops into battle anytime,anyplace. And herein
lieth the lesson.
Those two passages of Scripture are some
of the best lessons on being a true leader are they not? The Holy Spirit
reminded me of these two passages while speaking to MY heart. These three men,on
hearing that David was thirsty,risked their lives to bring him water from the
well at Bethlehem. He was so moved by their loyalty and devotion,love is a
better word,that he could not bring himself to drink it.Instead of benefiting
from their heroism and sacrifice, he refused the water and poured it
out.
Uriah the Hittite. We always seem to
focus on the sin of David when reading this passage,but look at Uriah's mindset
here. My compatriots and the Ark of the Lord are under the stars,I cannot,
I WILL NOT enjoy the comforts of home while they are uncomfortable. And here is
the simple,HARD lesson that was spoken to my heart again this day for the
quadrillionth time.What's that Ronnie? Just this.
How can I tell someone that they
should do something if I don't do it myself?! How can I tell someone that they
should give,if MY hand is clenched shut? How can I tell someone that they should
pray and read their Bible,if the dust is an inch thick on MY Bible and in MY
prayer closet? What gives me the right to tell someone that they need to go to
church,if I never darken the door? On and on and on.Do as I say,not as I do!You
see my point here don't you? Yeah, I know. We would be much more willing and
motivated to put ourselves in harm's way,if we saw our company commander doing
the same thing.Right?? Well, it's the same for us in our realm of influence
isn't it? Should we expect those with whom we have influence to sacrifice when
we don't provide the example?
What was it the wise sage Ringo Starr
once said?
"If you wanna sing the blues,then you got
to pay the dues,and you know it don't come easy."
Armchair warriors often fail.
Psalm 141:3 (ESV) 3 Set a guard, O
LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
God Bless
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