Success Never Happens Alone
Every leadership expert in the world knows that success never happens alone. We all know that if we try to achieve success on our own, we can only ever reach the limit of our capacity. We are all familiar with some of the clichés in our culture about the importance of accomplishing things together (E.g., "There is no ‘I’ in team”). As far back as the great King David, teams have been essential to accomplishing more than we could do alone.
At the end of David’s life (2 Samuel 23:8-39), we are given some insight into the team – his “Mighty Men” – that stood beside him. While it was a team that included people with a variety of complementary gifts and many of the traits that would make the list of “top team traits,” there were also some unusual talents that perhaps are worth noting as we build and serve on teams.
Around you, do you have people who;
- Reminds you that there is a God? (8) This is what Jashobeam’s name meant. In one battle, he was responsible for killing 800 people with his spear. This heroic act would have been impossible without divine intervention. I am sure that every time David remembered this event, he was reminded that there was a God who had his back. Who in your life reminds you there is a God?
- Gives everything to the point of exhaustion? (9) Eleazar stood beside David when everyone else fled. He courageously kept fighting until he had no ounce of energy left… The Lord saw his effort and granted him victory. Who is it that will spend their time for the cause you are fighting for?
- Protects the small stuff in your life? (11) Shammah was a man who protected a field of lentils. In the grand scheme of things, it wouldn’t have mattered much if he had surrendered this property. But that wasn’t the point… it didn’t matter the size of what was at stake, it just mattered that what was at stake belonged to someone he loved. Who will protect the small things in your life? If they look after the small, you can trust them with more. Who cares about the small stuff in your life?
- Reads and responds to your hints? (13-17) In a cave, as David was waiting for the tensions to decrease, he was reminiscing to himself about how great the water was from the well in Bethlehem, where he grew up. His friends heard his request and risked their lives to find this special water that he desired, not because David told or ordered them to, but because they wanted to bless him. Who gets your hints and can interpret your heart’s desires?
- Will do complex things with and for you? We read about Benaiah that he "killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day." One commentator writes that Benaiah faced the worst of enemies, in the worst of places, under the worst of conditions. Do you have someone on your team who’ll do this with you? There are many enemies in challenging areas and harsh conditions that we face regularly. And we need people who are prepared to fight difficulties with us.
The list could continue…
David’s team had all the traits of traditionally strong teams, but also a few qualities that we rarely look for. If we want to accomplish significant tasks, we need to be surrounded by great people who will give us a little bit extra. What other unusual traits are you looking for as you build teams around you?
At the end of David’s life (2 Samuel 23:8-39), we are given some insight into the team – his “Mighty Men” – that stood beside him. While it was a team that included people with a variety of complementary gifts and many of the traits that would make the list of “top team traits,” there were also some unusual talents that perhaps are worth noting as we build and serve on teams.
Around you, do you have people who;
- Reminds you that there is a God? (8) This is what Jashobeam’s name meant. In one battle, he was responsible for killing 800 people with his spear. This heroic act would have been impossible without divine intervention. I am sure that every time David remembered this event, he was reminded that there was a God who had his back. Who in your life reminds you there is a God?
- Gives everything to the point of exhaustion? (9) Eleazar stood beside David when everyone else fled. He courageously kept fighting until he had no ounce of energy left… The Lord saw his effort and granted him victory. Who is it that will spend their time for the cause you are fighting for?
- Protects the small stuff in your life? (11) Shammah was a man who protected a field of lentils. In the grand scheme of things, it wouldn’t have mattered much if he had surrendered this property. But that wasn’t the point… it didn’t matter the size of what was at stake, it just mattered that what was at stake belonged to someone he loved. Who will protect the small things in your life? If they look after the small, you can trust them with more. Who cares about the small stuff in your life?
- Reads and responds to your hints? (13-17) In a cave, as David was waiting for the tensions to decrease, he was reminiscing to himself about how great the water was from the well in Bethlehem, where he grew up. His friends heard his request and risked their lives to find this special water that he desired, not because David told or ordered them to, but because they wanted to bless him. Who gets your hints and can interpret your heart’s desires?
- Will do complex things with and for you? We read about Benaiah that he "killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day." One commentator writes that Benaiah faced the worst of enemies, in the worst of places, under the worst of conditions. Do you have someone on your team who’ll do this with you? There are many enemies in challenging areas and harsh conditions that we face regularly. And we need people who are prepared to fight difficulties with us.
The list could continue…
David’s team had all the traits of traditionally strong teams, but also a few qualities that we rarely look for. If we want to accomplish significant tasks, we need to be surrounded by great people who will give us a little bit extra. What other unusual traits are you looking for as you build teams around you?
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