Learning to Step Aside and Let Others Take Responsibility

Some people refuse to learn or to get along with others.  The Philistines had been soundly defeated repeatedly, but every time they recovered from the beating, they tried again.  As David aged, they hoped they would be able to defeat him and the Israelites more easily.  Although David could no longer do as much as he had in his youth, God enabled other men to step up and do great things as well, as we see in II Samuel 21:15-17.  “Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.   And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. 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.”

Other men stepped up to take responsibility, realizing that effect David’s death would have on the nation.  They insisted David focus on governing and allow them to do the physical fighting, just as it was necessary for David to allow other men to lead the battles and do the physical fighting.  It is crucial for the pastor of a church to allow others to take responsibility and step out on thir own if the church is to survive.   Like the Phillistines, Satan mever stops trying to take over.  No matter how completely the present pastor may have defeated Satan, he will attack again when he gets a chance, and there needs to be somebody prepared to stand against him.  Exercising too much control prevents the development of potential leaders, and will eventually leave the church susceptible. 

When the Philistines attacked again, there were other men prepared to defeat their giants just as David had defeated Goliath years before, as II Samuel 21:18-32 demonstrates.  “And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.  And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.  And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.  And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.  These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.”

We need to realize it is God’s church and people and that its survival is not dependent on the pastor.  God is able to empower and guide other men to do what is needed.  When we don’t allow them to exercise their faith and allow God to lead them, we set them up to fail and the church to collapse.