For who will hearken unto you in this matter? But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike. (1 Sam 30:24)
I like the old King James version of this verse. Are you one who “tarrieth by the stuff?” What does that mean? A little context will help.
In David’s pre-throne, on-the-run-from-Saul days, his favorite staging for his military strikes against the surround nations was a place called Ziklag. Upon returning from a raid, he found the Amalekites had ransacked Ziklag, and kidnapped all the women and children, including David’s family. David and his 600 men tore off in hot pursuit, only to have about 200 of them fall by the wayside in total exhaustion (it was hard to keep up with a man like David!). After victory, the 400 successful warriors initially refused to share any of the spoils (things captured in the raid on the Amalekites), with those who couldn’t keep up. Only those with the stamina to fight on the front lines and follow through were worthy of being rewarded for their efforts, they reasoned.
Have you ever felt left behind because you simply were prevented from keeping up? Sometimes it seems like only those on the front lines of ministry have all the fun, get all the attention, see all the action and get all the rewards. The preacher, the evangelist, the missionary. While some because of health issues, financial limitations, inability, lack of stamina – are relegated to a supporting role. They are left to “tarry by the stuff.”
Maybe you are one of them, you fold bulletins, clean up after Sunday morning, are an assistant to a Sunday School teacher, send letters and care packages to the missionaries, straighten chairs, visit those in the hospital when they are sick – but you don’t make it onto the front page of the “Martyrs for Jesus” publication.
Well, if the Lord is anything like David (and we are indeed assured in Scripture that he is), you will not loose your reward. For, your work is every much as important as those “on the front lines.” Think about it, the problem at Ziklag began when there were none of the 600 men left “by the stuff” of guarding the women and children in the first place. So when they took off in pursuit, though 200 of the men became exhausted by the pace of David, they still had an important role in looking after the equipment (“the stuff”) of the whole group. David, as a leader, had discovered the importance guarding what you have.
So, I want to encourage all of you whose role is to “tarrieth by the stuff,” playing what seems like a “lesser” role in serving the Lord and his people. You will share equally in the reward of those who serve on the front lines.
A very thoughtful and encouraging article!
Those soldiers fought hard for their king and then rested.