We're on the same team, right?

Isn't it interesting what the Spirit will point out when you are reading God's Word?

In First Samuel chapter thirty we see a story of David and his men returning from a fight to find their families taken captive. There were some of the men who were too weary to go after the culprits so they stayed behind with the supplies. David and the others ride off and save the women and children as well as all the plunder, bringing them back.

"Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left at the Besor valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, 'Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.' David replied, 'No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.' David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this." 1 Samuel 30: 21-25

I love the thought David upholds - we're on the same team here.

This kind of "we did it" attitude often crops up in churches and among churches.

I have heard pastors and church members want to make sure other churches and pastors know what they have accomplished. They can even get selfish when it comes to serving certain groups of people outside of the church.

Within the church, I've seen small groups and even individuals claim victory for themselves, excluding the whole body of Christ.

When this happens, we should remember this instance from the life of David.

We are given different roles as church members and even as churches in an area. But, we are on the same team and should have the same goal. Aren't we all winning people to Christ and encouraging our fellow believers?

All of us Christians make up the body of Christ and when there's a victory, we should share in the reward.

With our world in such a downward spiral away from God and His ways, we shouldn't bicker over who gets the credit and who should be left out because we feel they made a lesser contribution. It isn't our place to judge the role each person plays. There's no time for that. We have a lost world that needs winning to Christ.

Share equally in the reward and remember, all the glory goes to the Lord anyway.