Compassionate Leadership with Perspective and Justice

I am ever facinated with leaders that show perfect examples of God's grace towards people in difficult circumstances. Today I read out of of Mark 6 and 2 Samuel 16 and picked up on two nuggets of truth.

In Mark 6, Jesus sent the disciples out to teach and minister to people in the area and after that they came back all excited. People were also excited about the gospel and began to flock to Jesus. There were so many opportunities that the disciples were even too busy to eat. After playing dodge ball with the people via boat, the most intriguing thing happens... The disciples, obviously getting annoyed with all the work told Jesus to send the people away to buy their own food. But Jesus' attitude was totally different.
He was moved with compassion. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd and then taught them many things. You would like that after given the responsibility to be sent two-by-two to preach the gospel that the disciples would have a little maturity by now. This passage has reminded me that even we Christians who are placed in ministry/ leadership can loose perspective despite the responsibility we are given. I think anytime we get annoyed or fed up with people, we should reherse these senario in our minds and renew ourself in God's provision of grace.
The passage concludes with Jesus sending the disciples away and remaining behind to send the people off so that they can rest/ recover. Perhaps when we get to this point, we should take a time out too. God's provision of grace and perspective are amazing!
Now in the next passage, I find David showing amazing and godly leadership skills. In 2 Samuel 16, David is experiencing a rebellion by Absalom, his son. The king had retreated with a group of men to regroup. As David and his men passed a hillside before Barhium, he ran into Ziba, servant of Mephiboseth with two donkeys packed with goods. He honored David and his men with food and wine and David was able to give him everything Mephiboseth owned in return.
Then a twist in the plot... David and his men descend the hills to enter Berhium to encounter a family member of Saul, cursing him. Here we have a King being honored and honoring a blesser THEN we have a king honoring a dishonoring man. Just to think, David had plenty of men that were willing to kill Saul's relative, but instead this is what he says...
then David said to Abishai and the other officers, "My own son is trying to kill me. Shouldn't this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it. 12 And perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses."
There can be many things drawn from this reaction but one stands out the most to me. David had the greater picture. David drew from his own circumstance and understanding what the man had gone through since his own son sought to take his life and his kingdom. David did not turn to retaliation he turned to justice. Of course we can say that David was using his knowledge/ experience with God to allow events to play out but what is more extraordinary is found in the beauty of leadership. Instead of getting mad at someone under your leadership for judging you, why not use your experience of someone causing you pain in the past.
I am sure that as a pastor, you could easily embarrass a member in front of the congregation and excommunicate them from the church. But how much more powerful is it to allow the person to express the reality of their grief and allow God to be your deliverer. Besides, taking matters in your own hands may bring a short-term result. So I think this is an important truth to revisit when we are tempted to make an example of someone when they attack us.
These truths encourage me to stop and look for a broader perspective outside myself. These truths allow me to take a step away from internalizing things and taking things personal. People who take things personal do not perspective that they need and should seek a trusting person to give wise counsel. This is the maturity that God looks for to be righteous. Lets take a hold of God's deliverance from our immature ways. May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in His sight.
So the two truths are:Compassion driven leadership by giving your all to people and Compassion driven leadership by drawing strength to react with a true sense of justice.
Lord help me to take these steps in the future. Amen.