The Honor That Belongs to God
Verses:1 Chronicles 11:17-19
"David longed for water and said, 'Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!' So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 'God forbid that I should do this!' he said. 'Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?' Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it."
This moment is a piercing light into the nature of true leadership and the peril of misplaced honor. David’s mighty men, hearing the longing of their king, performed an act of breathtaking devotion and courage. They breached enemy lines, risking their very lives, to fetch a simple cup of water. In presenting it to David, they were not just offering water; they were offering the ultimate proof of their loyalty—their very lives were in that cup. David’s response is our eternal lesson. He did not see this sacrifice as a tribute to his own greatness or a perk of his kingly caste. He was horrified, for he saw the water for what it truly was: a sacrifice of such profound depth that it was an honor fitting only for God. He sensed that to drink it would be to claim a devotion that belonged to the Lord alone, and so he poured it out, a libation to the One truly worthy of all sacrifice. He reverted the honor to its rightful recipient.
This is a warning for our hearts, especially within the church. There may be times when people show us overwhelming honor and respect. We must understand that this is often their mode of worshipping God through us. They are honoring the God they see at work, the God we serve. To mistake their devotion for a personal compliment, to believe the respect is due to our own spiritual rank, our elite class, or our superior caste, is a fatal folly. It is to drink the water that David poured out. This very act—leaders consuming the honor that belongs to God alone—is a primary reason for the decay we see in the church today. It is a curse that elevates man and dims the glory of God.
We must remember the donkey that carried Jesus on Palm Sunday. The crowds laid down their cloaks and branches, shouting "Hosanna!" The donkey did not feel the respect was due to its donkey class or caste. It was a humble beast, carrying the Christ. The honor was never for the donkey; it was entirely for the One it carried. If that donkey had later thought the praises were for itself, it would have been swiftly disillusioned, finding itself alone in the dirt, far from the presence of the Lord. The moment we, as leaders, begin to believe the praises of the people are for us and not for the God we carry, we have already started that lonely journey away from His presence. We put ourselves in God’s stead, and that is the height of spiritual arrogance.
Therefore, when people show us honor, we must do as David did. We must humble ourselves instantly and empty ourselves of all pride. We must take that honor and reverently pour it back at the feet of God in worship. And we must honor the depth of the sacrificer’s heart by responding with genuine humility, love, and service, seeing them not as subjects but as fellow servants. To do otherwise to drink the water ourselves, to believe we are the elite is to ruin our own souls and the community around us. We must never feel super over others or begin to rule more harshly because of the respect they show. We are merely donkeys carrying the King; the honor, always and forever, belongs to Him.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,we come before You humbled by the example of Your servant David. Forgive us for the times we have mistakenly drunk from the cup of honor meant for You alone. Open our eyes to see that every good gift, every act of service, and every word of respect from Your people is ultimately a reflection of Your grace and their love for You. Give us a heart that instantly recoils at undue praise and quickly turns it back to You in worship. Strip from our hearts any notion of caste, rank, or spiritual superiority. Clothe us in the humble servanthood of Christ, that we may never rule over Your heritage but instead joyfully serve alongside them, honoring the depth of their sacrifice and devotion. Guard us from the pride that ruins and the decay that follows. Let all honor, glory, and power be Yours forever. Amen.