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“And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16, NLT)!
Insight
Perhaps there is not a more basic example of how to minister to someone than this: “Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God” (23:16).
So often, ministry begins when one person GOES TO another person in their time of need. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for David to be on the run from this mad king: Hiding in caves, strongholds and in the forests day after day. And David learns “that Saul had come out to take his life” (23:15). But Jonathan “went to David.” Jonathan didn’t wait for David to come to him, nor did he avoid the awkward situation (Jonathan’s father was the mad king) and he didn’t put it off until tomorrow. Who is in your life that you need to “go to?” Is there someone in need around you?
Jonathan “helped him.” So often, believers feel like they have to solve everyone’s problems for them. Or they have to explain WHY they are in this situation. On the other hand, Jonathan simply helps David. One of the greatest ways to minister is to help others help themselves. It is to come along-side someone to encourage and build up… not take over.
And Jonathan helped David “find strength in God.” God is our ultimate Source. The Messiah complex suggests that you have to “save” this person from their troubles… That is not so! Our role is to help them find strength in God. Pointing people to Him, revealing to them His love and provision and directing them to what He has already done… that’s our job.
Who is the David in your life? Is there a friend who needs you to come to them in their wilderness, help them and point them to the Father?
Prayer
Father, help me to implement this simple strategy of ministry. Open my eyes to those in need around me. Keep me from getting caught up in the “red-tape” of ministry and to keep it simple. In Jesus name, AMEN.
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How true is this with our wives even? I get caught up everyday almost in the mindset that God has given me so much wisdom and experience and discernment, that I should use those things to "lead my wife to become all that God has called her to be". I've had to realize that I'm not running a boot camp or a Tony Robbins seminar for my wife. Hard to swallow since leadership and wisdom run like ice through my veins. But what I've come to realize is that God has put my wife in my life for my growth and benefit just as much as He's put me in her life for hers (actually probably more for mine to be honest!). Michael V. and I talk a lot about how it's easy to mistake leading our wives for changing our wives. That's what I love Todd about your comment that states that we don't need to "save" these people or our wives necessarily, we just need to come along side them and encourage and support them and trust that God is working in them to fulfill their potential. I understand more now what God means by taking on a burden for someone else. It's almost like the more wisdom and knowledge that you gain from and about God, the harder it becomes to maintain an attitude of humility and unconditional grace for people because you know deep down, or at least you think you know, that if they would just do what you did, they would make it!! Can I get an amen? God continually says to me "I'm not working in their life like a worked in yours; and actually you're making it harder for me to do my job by trying to do it for me". Good word Todd.
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