“What he had perfected was a relationship of trust with God and a slingshot. And he knew that he and God had formed a battle-tested partnership.”
Shortly after consenting to David facing Goliath Saul offered him his armor. This was no ordinary standard issue armor, this was the armor of the king.
1 Sam. 17:38 So Saul clothed David with his [a]armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. NKJV
It could have been tempting for David to accept Saul’s armor and parade around like a newly signed NFL rookie holding up his team jersey with his name on it.
But after having tried to use the armor, David earnestly said to Saul that he could not walk in these for he had not tested them. These items were not his weapons of war. He had not perfected them.
1 Sam 17:39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. NKJV
What he had perfected was a relationship of trust with God and a slingshot. And he knew that he and God had formed a battle-tested partnership.
God used the skillfulness of his hands to win in battle and his record was proof. The lion, the bear, and now Goliath.
So what does it mean to resist the bling? Consider these thoughts from differing perspectives.
For Those Who Serve
- You don’t have to act like others to serve them well.
- Trust in your relationship with God and the history He has made with you.
- What has worked for others may not work for you.
- You don’t have to perform every worship song you hear and love.
- You don’t have to sound like your worship leader to be a good worship leader.
- What was designed to fit others may not fit you.
- Sometimes good intentions cause more harm than good.
- Don’t be afraid to earnestly speak up when things don’t fit.
- Don’t abandon your preparation and the processes that got you to this moment.
- Don’t let the weight of honor and position of those you serve cloud the judgment and discernment you need for battle.
- There is a difference in mantle and armor.
- Mantles and anointing can be transferred and imparted but many times armor is fitted to you personally.
For Those Who Lead
- When the weight of our involvement contradicts what God is doing in those we lead, we should have the wisdom to let them roll.
- When our methods don’t position our people for success or growth then we shouldn’t force our help on the situation.
- If the armor, we place on others impedes the confidence they have in God then it’s not necessary that our armor be used.
- Sometimes we put on others procedures and practices that were important to us but they may not be needed by the ones who serve.
- It’s true that soldiers need weapons and armor but we must remember that even with our good intentions its okay if they don’t do it the way we did it.
- There are different kinds of weapons and different types of soldiers.
- 1 Sam. 17:40 Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. NKJV
So with serving and leading we need to resist the bling and allow God to work through one another in order that each one can fulfill the destiny God has for us.
If the giants are slain, then there’s plenty of bling.
