When Christ Has You, Nothing Else Matters

We come to the 11th chapter of 1 Chronicles. 

1 Chronicles 11:10 (ESV) Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.

There's something to be said about great leaders. They create great men/women that serve under/behind them in absolute devotion. I'm a firm believer that your life is not defined by what you become but by the people you leave behind. The investments you make in people resonate throughout eternity.

The 11th chapter of Chronicles enumerates and details the exploits of the mighty men David led during the rise of Israel's monarchy. We should take special note of their actions so that we might see the evidentiary characteristics of those who seek to serve the true Christ. 

We first hear of Jashobeam:
1 Chronicles 11:11 (ESV) This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.

Next, there was the strangely named "Dodo". Scripture says when the Philistines attacked a barley field, all the men fled except for Dodo:
1 Chronicles 11:14 (ESV) he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the LORD saved them by a great victory.

Then there is the baffling account of David's thirst for water and the three men who acquired him some. 

1 Chronicles 11:15–17 (ESV) Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17 And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”

Bethlehem was David's home town. He knew this well and in his time in exile from Saul, he longed for its waters. The men are so loyal to David, they risk their lives to get it. 

1 Chronicles 11:18–19 (ESV) Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the LORD 19 and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.

This moment is crazy. Why would David do this? It makes no sense for the men to risk their lives only to see David pour the water on the ground instead of drinking it. But the text makes sense if we see David as a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. The chapter is illustrating the courage, ability and die-hard loyalty of David's followers. He drew these men to himself and made them who they were. This is why they were willing to do anything for David. He defined them. They were mighty because of his leadership. 

This chapter illustrates for us the loyalty that true Christians will have for Christ. They will do whatever He asks even when it seems pointless to the observer. 

Paul eloquently said it well in Acts 20:24.
Acts 20:24 (ESV) I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

The Christian knows what Christ has done and his whole life is in Jesus' hands to do with as He wishes. This is what it means to know the Savior. If He has you, all that you are is His and nothing you have is off the table. 

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