Digging Deeper: Taking Initiative
1 One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. 3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” 5 So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” 7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
2 Samuel 9:1-7 (NLT)
TAKING INITIATIVE
This past Sunday, we learned that one of the ways we show kindness is when we take the initiative. When King David learned about Mephibosheth, he took the initiative to seek him out and to provide him with lifelong blessings.
Kindness in the form of initiative can look a lot of different ways. It can look like providing charitable giving of your time and resources, it can look like calling your mom out of the blue just to chat, or it can take on a much more dramatic form as it did for Richard Rowland Kirkland.
Kirkland served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and participated in the Battle of Fredricksburg. After a failed assault by the Union Army on Mayre’s Heights, dozens of troops lay on the battlefield wounded or dying, and many of them were crying for the same thing: water.
After the agonizing cries persisted, Kirkland took action, approaching his Commander, Joseph B. Kershaw, saying, “General, I can’t stand this.” Initially, Kershaw forbade Kirkland from helping, but he later gave in.
So Kirkland rounded up every canteen he could find and headed out to the battlefield. The Union army initially thought he was trying to plunder their dead and took fire, but after seeing that he was supplying the injured on both sides with water, all firing from either side ceased. Once it became apparent what he was doing, cries from all over the battlefield for water erupted, with Kirkland providing relief.
The courageous and compassionate acts of this 19 year old soldier earned him the nickname “The Angel of Mayre’s Heights” and immense respect from both sides of the conflict. Just one year later, Kirkland would suffer a fatal wound in battle, with his final words being, “tell my pa I died right.”
While many qualities can be observed on the pages of history in battle, honor is among the most compelling. While taking the initiative to approach his commanding officer and making an appeal of compassion, Kirkland was able to set an amazing example of kindness for everyone there. God tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and I am not sure there is a better example given than what Lieutenant Kirkland provided us.
In this remarkable example, we learn about the importance of taking the initiative to do what is right. King David knew it was right to take care of Mephibosheth, and Lt. Kirkland knew it was right to show care for the injured and dying soldiers – regardless of loyalties. James actually warns us that if we know what is right, and choose not to do it, that we are committing sin (James 4:17).
This type of loving kindness is what we would hope for if we were on the battlefield, wounded. Can you imagine? Staring up at the sky wondering if your next breath might be your last, in agonizing pain and just hoping for some water to drink, hoping for somebody brave enough to approach the General and ask if they can help you.
Jesus tells us very plainly that whatever we want someone to do for us, we must do for them (Matthew 7:12). This is the Golden Rule. So don’t hesitate. When you see someone in need, have the courage to take initiative and be kind.
Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.