Original: September 10, 2007
McMinnville, OR
1 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. 2 Chronicles 23:1
11 Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. 2 Chronicles 25:11
I did something very bold (or stupid depending on your opinion) about a month ago. I sat down with Shanna and asked her if she thought I had the gifts and graces to have a ministry beyond the local (church) level. If so, what did she see as the biggest hindrance in accomplishing this? Never ask an honest wife such a question unless you are ready for an honest answer! Although she confirmed my dreams her next statement whacked me in the chest like my Weatherby 7mm muzzle blast at close range.
“The biggest thing hindering you is your pride. You never ask for anyone to help you with your dreams.”
Her words stunned me. I had to pick myself up (figuratively of course) from the floor.
Pride?
A man’s pride can ruin a man’s dreams. God-sized dreams cannot be accomplished alone. A man needs a team of other men and women around him. A winning man has a winning team. A winning man has won the war over his pride. A winner never stands alone.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
Look at Jehoiada. When he decided to strengthen himself what did he do? He began a huge recruitment campaign gathering strong leaders and “commanders of units of a hundred” around him. Again, we see that a man is only as strong as the size of the people around him. He is only as strong as his people.
Imagine the day Amaziah “marshaled his strength and led his army.” The capacity of his strength was in direct proportion to the size of his army-the sheer numbers of those around him. The man who wants to be stronger that he is alone needs a tribe, a team, a following, an army. Our strength is exaggerated by those who muster to a similar cause. The leader without a team is just taking a walk-alone.
Why go into battle alone?
Why refuse to ask for help?
Pride?
Pride.
Pride results in being alone, a team of one. The final result is weakness. That’s right, weakness. I have been praying most recently that God would humble me enough to find a network of men who will help me win, help youth pastors win, help teenagers win and ultimately help the Kingdom of God.
Who is helping you win?
How is your pride preventing you from winning?
