As a parent I famously learned that when two kids both wanted the last brownie, to let one kid cut the brownie in half, and let the other kid choose his piece first. The kid with the knife carved the brownie in half with surgical precision. This turned out to be one of the best parenting tips I ever learned. Of course, I sometimes avoided the whole problem by eating the brownie myself before the kids got up.

David faced outrage about the fairness of dividing spoils after a raid. Those who faced the enemy wanted a greater share than those who stayed behind and guarded the baggage. Close to coming to blows, David cooled the mob with these words: The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.

David displayed wisdom and bravery in a tense situation. He set a policy that remained in place for generations. His fairness certainly engendered good will among his people, invaluable for a leader. His generosity (if bigger shares were given, he deserved the most of all) brought many to his side.

Courage and care shine from David’s leadership practices. Here he set policy with firmness and decisiveness, while creating a situation where everyone benefited.

That’s the type of leader I can follow.

I Samuel 30 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Amanda Lim