Responsibility as a Key to Success! II

I welcome every reader on this wonderful day that God has created! May God give us today the spirit of wisdom and revelation of His Word that is alive and active! We are continuing to talk about responsibility being a key to success and authority in this life. Yesterday we discussed the fact that God rewards those who take responsibility for their life and everything God has given them. We saw that irresponsible individuals lose their influence, but responsible ones will be trusted with even more.

Today let’s look at one episode in the Bible, which illustrates this principle even more clearly:

«Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, „You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, „Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, „The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, „Go, and the LORD be with you!” So Saul clothed David with his armour, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armour and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, „I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off» (1 Samuel, 17:31-39).

This passage tells about the reign of the first king of Israel, Saul. Saul, as the king and commander of the armies, was given the responsibility to lead the nation of Israel in this war against Israel’s enemies. The Philistines gathered to war against Israel, and among them there was a warrior named Goliath. When Saul and his armies heard the words of this giant, they got scared and fled.

«When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid… And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid» (1 Samuel, 17:11, 24).

Saul shirked his responsibility and started to look for someone that could oppose Goliath.

«So the men of Israel said, „Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel» (1 Samuel, 17:25).

Young David heard the words of Goliath just like everyone else, but instead of becoming afraid, he was filled with boldness and was ready to challenge Goliath.

«Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? (…) And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?” (…) Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, „Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine» (1 Samuel, 17:26, 29, 31-32).

Saul sent to the front lines a young guy who wasn’t a trained soldier. Saul himself stayed in the safe zone. Saul passed his responsibility to David without considering the consequences.

«So Saul clothed David with his armour, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armour and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, „I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off» (1 Samuel, 17:38-39).

By giving his armour to David, Saul thus passed his responsibility to David as well. And along with it he passed to David his authority. Glory and authority belong to the responsible. That is why after the battle David received more glory and praise than Saul who was the official king at that time.

«Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: „Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, „They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”» (1 Samuel, 18:6-8).

Saul wanted the victory to be ascribed to him alone, because he was the King. But the women of Israel ascribed the victory and the glory to the one who really deserved it.

You may have the throne, a title, and a high position, but if you are irresponsible, you will lose authority and power. There is a reward for everything – for being responsible and for being irresponsible. Glory and authority belong to responsible people; the irresponsible ones get disgrace and reproach.

May God help you not shirk your responsibility to others! God will not give you more than you can bear. His grace is sufficient to help and to save you in every situation!

God bless you!

We will continue tomorrow.

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye