1 Chronicles 11

What is, hires more. Have you ever heard that saying? Basically, it’s one way people comment on their bosses. Sometimes it’s a compliment. If you think you’re a brilliant person, you might say that your boss hired you because he is also brilliant. Or if you’re disappointed with the poor quality of your coworkers, you might say that only a lazy, stupid boss would hire lazy, stupid people. (Of course, you better be careful with that way of thinking if you work there, too.)

What is, hires more.

The same is true for God. When He looks for leaders, He looks for people who are after His own heart. He looks for people who see things the way He does. This was especially true in the case of King David: "All Israel came together to David at Hebron and said, 'We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, even while Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord your God said to you, "You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler."'" (vs 1-2)

Did you notice how the concepts of shepherd and ruler are married in this verse? This is how God works. He rules as a servant. In the paradigm of His kingdom and government, power and service are linked. The more you serve, the more powerful you become. If you want to be a ruler, you must be a servant.

That’s why God told David that he would be a shepherd to Israel—a nurturer and a servant. It was in doing so that he would "become their ruler." There’s no other way. A person can be a dictator and rule by force, but to truly be a leader, a person must first be a servant. This is exactly what was revealed about God in the person of Jesus, so it’s no wonder that God goes about molding other leaders in the same way.

God is all-powerful, but that’s only because He is—first and foremost—a servant. He rules with service.