What do Bathsheba, Uriah, and Joab all have in common with each other? You might say, "they were all major characters in the account of David and Bathsheba," (2 Sam 11), and of course you would be right. But there is something else they have in common; something that we, at one time or another, may also have had in common with them--or rather, with David.
Some time ago, a college student from France came to be an intern at a company I was with, and was assigned to work with me. We worked on the same projects, shared the same cubicle, and had many conversations with each other--both of work and non-work related subjects.
He was a personable, moral man, who had a good work ethic; but in all the time we were together, he would never accept an invitation to meet with the church or to study--in fact, he made it clear that for the time being, he wanted nothing to do with religion. Six months later, shortly before he left, I asked him why he felt that way. He revealed to me that when he was young, a priest had said something in his hearing that, I had to admit, should not have been said--and which my friend would never forget. Secondly, he said that the Catholic church (which is the predominant denomination in France) had itself done many things in the name of God that were harmful to men and mankind--things which he knew were not from God. For him, these represented christianity, and he didn't want any part of it--at least for then.
You see, of all the things I learned from my foreign friend, perhaps the most valuable was that of the importance of influence; and that is the common thread between Bathsheba, Uriah, and Joab--influence. David used his influence with each one of them to get them do something they knew was wrong: Bathsheba, to commit adultery; Uriah, to become drunk; Joab, to commit murder.
No matter what we may think, each one of us will be an influence on others; the only choice is whether that influence is for good or for bad. We may influence those who work with and for us, we may influence our friends; if we are married, we most certainly will influence our spouse and our children.
At times, we may decide to use our influence improperly, as did King David. More often, though, our influence is felt passively--simply by what we say and do. Our words, like those of the priest my friend spoke of, can leave marks that will last eternally; and our actions, like those of the Catholic church, can speak volumes more than our mouths ever could.
James declared that "...we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect [or, mature--ksv] man, able also to bridle the whole body" (Jas 3:2). It was for this reason that he wrote earlier (v1), "...let not many of you become teachers." By our words, we can either help someone on their merry way to destruction, or to true peace with God. While this is sobering, it doesn't mean we should avoid teaching at all, or keep from speaking to anyone; but it does mean we must watch what we say. Paul commanded, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (Col 4:6)
Of works, Jesus Himself said, "Let your light so shine before men [i.e. like a lamp on a lampstand--ksv], that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven" (Mt 5:16). The opposite is also true; if others see us doing what is not good, knowing that we profess to be children of God, they may want nothing to do with what we profess to be a part of.
It may be that my friend was using these reasons as an excuse--I don't know; but I do know this: we will be an influence; and if we are thoughtless with our words, or not careful in our example, that influence may last for more than a lifetime.
As we parted, I asked that he not judge God by what mere men say or do, but instead to come to know him by his own words--the Bible. I don't expect to see my friend again in this life; its unlikely that either of us will visit the other's nation in the future. Still, my hope is that God used my family and me to influence him for good. Perhaps a seed of truth was planted, and we will get to see one another again--only this time, in Heaven with God.
