Walking With the Word

As a bus driver, as a truck driver and also as a soldier, it always struck me that those doing the driving or working ‘on the tools’, as it were, doing the real work, thought that those ‘in the office’ did nothing and were out to make their lives as difficult as possible—what do they do in there all day anyway?! I used to think the same way until I myself became one of those in the office and began to realise that without them, those out doing the real work would not be able to function.

It’s a truism, isn’t it, that from our view point, others never seem to have it as hard as we do; we often struggle to see things from another’s perspective. This was true of those from a story in the Bible in which there was a dispute over the spoils of war (see 1 Samuel 30):

David and his merry-men, as I like to call them, had a home base in Ziklag, in Philistia, from which they would set out to carry out secret raids against the Philistines. At that time he was hiding-out among them to avoid Israel’s miscreant King Saul, who was hell-bent on killing him out of jealousy. We break into the story, however, when their hosts, the Philistine’s, had prevented David from joining them in battle, since they didn’t trust him (as it turns out, with good reason) and so they returned to their temporary home in Ziklag to find it had been raided by Israels arch-thorns-in-the-side, the Amalekites.

“When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep.”

1 Samuel 30:3-4)

The people were so upset and angry that they spoke of stoning David. He was very distressed, understandably, notwithstanding his own losses, but he strengthened Himself in the Lord, asked Him what he should do and with his 600 men pursued the band of raiders.

On the way, they stopped at a brook, and some of them were too exhausted to continue, so they were left there at the brook to rest and to watch over the baggage. With some intel’ garnered from an escaped Egyptian slave, who had been left for dead by his Amalekite owner, the remaining 400 men pursued and caught up with the Amalekites, raided them, and reclaiming all, returned safe and sound; nothing was missing.

Upon their arrival back at the brook, with all the women, children and livestock, some of those who had been in the raiding party began to grumble.

[They said] “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.”

1 Samuel 30:22

Seems fair, right! They had done all the work! Why should they share? No, that’s not right declared David, “For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike” (1 Samuel 30:24).

What a great principle to operate under. It recognises that everyone has a part to play, and whilst the risks may be fewer, all contributions are valid for the whole endeavour.

In a missionary organisation, those who give or raise money, manage resources, pray, encourage, communicate and advocate for the core mission and relay stories from the ‘front-line’, or indeed just open the post, all play their part in the delivery of that mission. The same would be true in any business or organisation, as well as, of course, in your local church—all will have a combination of different essential roles to play; all roles are equally valid in the work.

“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

Mark 10:29-31

The Christian’s reward is not based on which kind of work they did for the Lord, but for their faithfulness in it. But we don’t work for the reward, Jesus is our reward. Ultimately, for those in-Christ, all will be with Jesus in the New Heavens and the New Earth regardless. The outcome for being in-Christ, is to spend eternity with Christ. The only qualification or requirement for this is based solely on God’s grace and not on any works we can do or have done, except, that is, to believe on the One, Jesus, whom was sent and His sacrifice for sin 2000 years ago on the Cross.

Let us stick to our own calling, mission and work, while giving thanks for all those who ‘stay by the luggage’, enabling others to go forward to the frontline to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:28

All are equally valid in-Christ, therefore all will receive their inheritance with Christ.

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