ICS Daily Devotions
Team Support is Needed
1 Chronicles 11:10, 26-47 “These were the chiefs of David’s mighty warriors—they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised… The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hurai from the ravines of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur, Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai, Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai, Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him, Hanan son of Maakah, Joshaphat the Mithnite, Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, Jediael son of Shimri, his brother Joha the Tizite, Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite, Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.”
This is a long list of names, but it demonstrates that the Bible tells us what we all know to be true: the rise and fall of any organization is very much dependent not only on leadership but also on the team that the leader leads. Nobody, not even King David, is able to carry out the ministry alone because nothing much can be achieved by an individual. It is always good to work with a team.
Of course, this is true within the church. In fact, the bigger the church gets, the more hands need to be on deck in order to effectively and efficiently get things done for the glory of God.
Dr Samuel Chand, a pastor, once saw a man through the second-storey window of his church. The man was painting from his place on the ladder, but the pastor could not see who was holding it steady. The Lord used this picture to speak to him: the painter is like a leader, painting the vision of what is to be done, and he will need people to hold the ladder steady so that so that he can be effective, rather than shaken.
There is only one person who can climb up the ladder at a time, as there can be only one vision for a unified church body. This person is the vision caster. But he alone is not enough. He needs many people to hold on to the ladder in order for the vision to succeed. There will also be people who will shake the ladder by challenging the vision and those who create trouble by moving the ladder. As a church, there must be one clear mandate and many supporters to hold on to that ladder so that all are able to fulfill the end goal together. Serving as part of the team may seem less glorious than being the vision caster, but without everyone, nothing would get done.
2 Samuel 23:15-16 “And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.”
This is an example of humble team play. King David was not giving a command to his mighty men to get him a drink from the gate of Bethlehem, but simply stating a craving. Yet, his mighty men took it upon themselves to go and get that water without waiting to be commanded! And once they had served the water to David, he did not take the water for himself, but offered it to the Lord. He knew that it could have cost them their blood and lives, so David was very touched when these three mighty men, leaders in their own right, were so selfless and courageous.
These mighty men went to get the water because they overheard what the king wanted; they honored the king. They had the initiative to do what they were able; it wasn’t too small or menial a job for them. They could have said, I am trained to lead thousands in battle, not to fetch water for a single man. But these men knew how to honor the Lord’s anointed and carry out what is right. It may appear that we are serving humans, but in actuality, we are serving God by serving those he has given a vision.
Sermon Series: King David’s Men
