One Key to Great Works

1 Chronicles 11:11

And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

David did not become great on his own; he became great by allowing others to work with him, and together they all became great. You will notice it says about David in verse 9, So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him. David did not become great immediately, but he became great gradually. As he gradually added great men to his army, they together became great.

Nobody becomes great without a mighty army of people working with them. Nobody becomes great without an army of mighty people helping them to accomplish what God has intended for them to accomplish. There were over thirty men who helped David accomplish and win the great wars that he is credited with winning. By himself, David could have won a few of these wars, but he would not have won all of them without the help of these mighty men.

Every great work of God is accomplished because a great God takes a man and makes him great, with a great people working together with that man to accomplish something great for God. No great work of God has ever been done by one person alone. It takes an army of people willing to do their tasks without notoriety or flash, and doing it because it is the right thing to do. Let me share some thoughts about the importance of everyone being involved in the work of God so that the great work of God can accomplish great feats of faith to show that God is still God in our present day.

First, no man becomes a great leader who is intimidated by the accomplishments of others. You will never become great if you try to squash those who are helping you do great things for God. A leader who is intimidated by a follower’s accomplishments will eventually run those people off. It ought to encourage you that followers are accomplishing great things with you.

Second, a great work is never accomplished without the leader being willing to spread the load to others. If you are unwilling to let others help you in the work, you will limit what God can do through you. Great works are done because someone is willing to delegate to others and let them help in accomplishing great things for God.

Third, there is no jealousy in great works. Great leaders are often praised for their great work, and their followers are very pleased; however, great leaders are also not jealous of those beneath them receiving praise for the great accomplishments they make. In fact, great leaders will praise those beneath them as the reason for their own success. Saul was jealous of David getting praise for defeating Goliath, but that led to his eventual downfall. You cannot be jealous of others getting praise, as they do deserve praise for their help in the work God is using you to do.

Fourth, great works are accomplished because everyone realizes they are needed to accomplish a great work for God. Great churches of the past were built by an army of people. If you want a great church today, it will take an army of people working together to accomplish a great work for God. Nobody in this army is perfect, but together, God uses imperfect people working together as a great army to accomplish great works for His cause.