Lead with Mercy
To be merciful, I’ll keep it short.
There is life-changing power in granting someone mercy. If it is in your power to be merciful today, and it is, then do it. Be merciful.
There is a crazy leadership example in the Bible, a transformative story of flourishing via mercy. It's not just for King David, but for the entire Kingdom of Israel, and ultimately for God’s Kingdom. David, hiding in the wilderness with his men, has an opportunity offered up to him on a platter. He gets evil King Saul alone, in the dark, with his pants down. David’s men said something along the lines of, "Do it. You are our fierce leader. You have Goliath’s sword. God brought Saul here. Now is the opportunity to take power. Kill him." David demurred. He showed Saul mercy. And he showed his men the transformative power of trusting and serving God by showing mercy to others.
David's men knew his ability to fight. In this example, he shows them a different kind of strength, a greater strength. Mercy. Holy Spirit-inspired leadership.
Trust in God. Show mercy rather than doing evil. There is great freedom and transformative power when we put love into action. When we trust God to be our advocate. Let’s trust God’s timing to rescue us from the power of evil people.
Don’t confuse David's mercy with doing nothing. David did something. He exercised mercy. He then went out of the cave and boldly confronted the evildoer. The odds were likely against him (say 600 to 3,000 of Saul’s elite troops), but God’s righteousness shone through. David had confidence in God. He knew that he would be King as Samuel had so anointed him to be. But in this instance, the right thing was to grant mercy to his foe. Greater love. Greater power.
You see, God is our Rock. We can stand firmly in our King, Jesus Christ. We are strong and healthy and at peace in Jesus Christ. So let’s act like it.
David has a famous line here that I’ve missed before. He says, “From evil people come evil deeds” (1 Samuel 24:13). He's calling Saul out and pointing to the ultimate Judge. Oh, we see that ever so much in our organizations. Jerks who are enabled and allowed to hold leadership positions. They cause damage to the bottom line and to the emotional well-being of others every day. The sooner you can get them off the bus, the better. But don't miss the opportunity to show mercy to people. Yes, even to the jerks. God’s justice is certain. But so too is the truth that God requires us to show mercy to others.
We see in this story of King David’s mercy the power in repaying good for evil. Do good. Repay evil with good. And be sincere about it.
At every opportunity, do good. Be faithful in handling the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to you today. When we help others we serve our powerful King. Give food and drink, hospitality, clothing, care, fellowship, and an honest ear. Yes, even to those who have not asked you a question or who care not a thing for anyone but themselves. Offer mercy. For God has been merciful to us.
There is an eternal fire prepared for the devil, his angels, and people who do not serve God and who refuse to help the least of these (Matthew 25:41). There are dire consequences for those who refuse to offer mercy.
Jesus teaches us this: "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me’"(Matthew 25:34-36).
Men, consider that the most manly thing, the most Christ-like thing we can do today, is to show mercy. Yes, it can feel right to fire off a cutting remark to your wife. Don’t. Show mercy. Yes, you may be slighted by a boss or coworker, and there may be a perfect chance to give them exactly what the whole office has been praying they’d finally get. Don’t. Show mercy.
How we show mercy today has eternal weight, because one day every one of us will stand before our Judge and Savior, who alone determines the mercy we will receive.
“There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you” (James 2:13).
Lord God, please help us to be merciful today. Amen.
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