David's Success

In Christianity I often find the most profound truths are also very simple. I was amazed at the simplicity of two keys to King Davids success in 1 Chronicles 14:2

"And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel."

David knew that his calling was not from man, that it was the Lord who had established him. To be successful in any God given task or any ministry position we need to realise that we are their because of the Lord.

Psalm 75:6-7
For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another

How else will we ever truly endure in a particular work. Surely the only thing that enables us to hang in when the going really gets tough is the revelation that we have not been appointed because it is a good idea, we are not just fulfilling another position but the God of the universe had a plan and wants to use in a special way. Another example of a leader who knew that his ministry was of God and not man was the Apostle Paul who wrote in Galatians chapter 1

1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

Oh Lord help us not to be people that think we do things to impress man but let us realise that you are the one who truly calls us fourth.

However in the second half of the Chronicles text we see that David didn't just understand who he was called by, he also understood who he was called for.
He knew that the Kingdom has been made great for the sake of the people. He realised that any success he had was not for himself but success in the kingdom was for the people of God. How important it is that Christian leaders do not get caught building an empire instead of God's Kingdom. That the Holy Spirit would constantly remind us that what we are doing and any success we experience is truly for the so others can be blessed. Oh God let our ministry be strive to have something of worth to impart for the sake of others.

In short we are not called by man but we are called for man