A Humble Man
"The measure of a man's character is the measure of his humility..."
David's Sense of Humor
David maintained that God has a rich sense of humor, and that therefore His children should be like-minded. David certainly was. What impressed many people who knew him personally was his ability to not take himself too seriously and to have a good laugh when the occasion warranted it. He wrote:
We all need a good sense of humor! God created us with a sense of humor and the ability to laugh at things that are funny. So I'm sure He Himself has a sense of humor, especially when I look at some of the things and people He has created and the funny situations He lets them get into.
There is such a thing as being too serious and too sober about some things and taking yourself too seriously! The ability to laugh at yourself and your own silly mistakes is a great asset, and helps keep you humble. He who can't laugh at his own mistakes or take the mistakes of others with a sense of humor either has too much pride or too severe a sense of life.
Candid Admissions of Shortcomings and Mistakes
Although David inspired a great deal of appreciation and admiration from his followers, he never failed to remind them that he was just a man, and as such, fallible. He was acutely aware of his personal shortcomings and faults and took the unusual step of telling his flock about them. He felt that this would remind them that he was just a man, and that he needed their prayers and God's guidance in order to carry on.
Giving All the Credit to God, Not Himself
David knew that many denominations and religious movements lose momentum or go astray when their founder dies. He spent much time preparing The Family for the time when he would no longer be with them in this life. More than anything else, he wanted his followers to depend on Jesus, and not him.
From the earliest days of the movement, David constantly reminded his followers that Jesus was the founder of The Family, and their true leader. In one of his earliest Letters he exhorted:
Some of you don't know who I am! I don't care! It doesn't make too much difference as long as you know Who Jesus is! If anyone wants to know who started this group, or they ask you to take them to your leader, take them to Jesus!
He had always known that it was only God Who had enabled and empowered him to start and lead The Family. He saw himself more as a messenger boy than anything else. He would often remind his followers of this.
I appreciate your love and thanking me and all that, but what do you do when a messenger boy just delivers you a message? You might thank him for delivering it, but after all, he didn't write the message, it's not his message. ... It's all the Lord, so let's thank Him!
