Understanding Leadership Dynamics that Birthed – THE MEN OF DAVID
By Lawrence Achudume
David had men who followed him; he became their pastor. Through his pastoring and leadership, these men were transformed into good men later in life. David turned their negatives into positives and their disadvantages into advantages. They followed their leader and they were changed.
And every one that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. …
1 Samuel 22:2-3
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
2 Samuel 23:8
The church and pastors have suffered in the hands of some church leaders and workers; they often come as angels but end up as agents of destruction and pain. After they have been trained and equipped for the work, they abandon the church and the pastor accusing the pastor of using them even though they have been trained by the church and pastor.
Something is wrong with the heart of man and service. Think again, who is using who? Look again at the qualification of David’s men: distressed, in debt, confused, tired of life. Then David changed their lives through the grace of God upon his life but they never accused David of using them. Thank God these David’s men are different from what we see today.
The gospel artiste trained by the church now doing well and making money now accuses the church and the pastor who invested in him of trying to use him. Someone said, ‘A fool is sustained in his foolishness because he considers his ways of life superior to biblical instructions.’ Everything that God made is a solution to a problem, don’t be a problem, be a solution anywhere God has planted you.
From the 1 Samuel 22 story, some bunch of supposedly useless men gathered themselves to David as their leader. These were men who were later transformed through the pastoring, leadership, and training of David and became great men. What did they do to become such champions and great men in their time?
Remember they came to David when David himself needed help as he had trouble with the reigning King, Saul that David himself didn’t look like a king or one who can help them was bad enough. They didn’t consider that, David needed help or that he didn’t look like one who can help them. They saw beyond the physical, they saw beyond David’s today to David of the future, they saw David of the will of God. A few reasons suffice here:
They understood the law of recognition
They know the man that carried the blessing and recognized the man with the key for their next level and future. David was not the King, he was a wanderer and a homeless man yet the saw beyond the natural, believed in him and followed him though he is in need of help too.
As a leader or church worker stop looking for a finished product and see beyond your present need. Gehazi missed it because he allowed his present need to becloud his relationship and work with Elisha. That person may not look like one that can help you. Your present church may not be your standard, look beyond and build it. Don’t let financial gain rob you of your great future (John 1:29). They knew who holds the ace.
They understood the law of consistency
They remained with David even in the storm. They were consistent followers and were not double-minded about their leader, they stayed with David, fought for and with him and defended him to the end and won battles with him.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:7-8
They understood the law of availability
They were men who were always available to David to give him comfort (physically, emotionally and spiritually). Availability is superior to ability. They were in the caves with David, nobody was after them but they ran with David and did not complain they are serving man (John 2:7). The pots were there but if the men were not there, nobody will fill them with water, serve and it becomes wine because not every hand turn water to wine.
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir and went not.
Matthew 21:28-30
They understood the law of sacrificial service
For these men, sacrifice is their second name. Most of their works with David were not convenient but by sacrifice. They left the comfort of their city to live in the wilderness with David. They may be useless men but had better places to live in the city than in the wilderness. When David asked for water from the enemies’ camp, they risked their life only to satisfy the thirsty and troubled David.
And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
And he said, be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:15-17
Perhaps David wanted to check again if they mean their loyalty, he got more than he expected; they were more than loyal. These men understood that if it does not cost you, it will not reward you. Let your work in church cost you your time, money etc. To make maximum impact in your work and service to God; you must come out of your comfort zone.
They understood the law of dedication
They were extremely dedicated to the vision of their leader from the beginning as they entered David’s life. They became his fighters. You cannot rule out their role in David’s success story no wonder their names are boldly printed in the Book of Records because they gave life.
No pastor can succeed without dedicated men and women. At a point, they told David to go home lest the light of Israel be put out for he is more than ten thousand while they go to war and they won and name the city after David. Though they can fight they know where the victory and their future lie.
Then the men of David sware unto him, saying. Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
2 Samuel 21:17b
By the same Author HOW TO BE THE REAL MAN
It is not dedication when you eat your tithe, withhold your offering, do not support church projects, speak against your pastor, and do unacceptable acts that do not grow the church, the workforce and the members. Some workers might not come to church because of a football match or rainfall. Some are perpetual latecomers and still want to be called deacons or elders. We need true dedicated men and women. You may carry a title but not carry the burden of the work or do the work. Note that it is a labourer that God pays and not those who carry the title.
