The Pointy End of the Spear

Introduction

In the military there is a common expression that describes a particular part in any battle plan. If you hear someone say that they were on the pointy end of the spear, that means that they were the lead battle element. They were the group that was intended to make first contact with the enemy.

In David’s military career, he was often on “the pointy end of the spear,” but we shall see today that there is much more to a battle plan than being on the pointy end of the spear. We will also see that an apt comparison could be made in our Christian duties today.

1 Samuel 30:21–25 ESV

21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor. And they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. And when David came near to the people he greeted them. 22 Then all the wicked and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” 23 But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. 24 Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.” 25 And he made it a statute and a rule for Israel from that day forward to this day.

There are some similarities between David's statute and what is true with regards to our service as Christians today, for we too are engaged in a battle though our battle is a spiritual one

Ephesians 6:12

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

2 Corinthians 10:3

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

God’s Army Requires Two Forms of Service

Any military action is dependent of both battle forces and support forces.

When you watch a war movie you will see a lot of scenes with shooting. It might be rifles, might be tanks, might be canons. You also might see airplanes either dropping ordinance from the sky or taking on enemy aircraft with guns or missiles.

What you normally don’t see in the movies is the unit that is supplying the fuel for all those war machines. You won’t see the trucks that are delivering the ammunition to the front, or the people involved in delivering food that is feeding those at the front.

You don’t see those because, for the most part, it’s boring. No one goes to the movies to see supply trucks in action.

There is an old adage that "Armies can’t fight on an empty stomach, and soldiers can’t march without boots." Someone once asked the famous French leader Napoleon Bonaparte what things a soldier needed most. He said “A full belly and good boots.”

Many battles have been won more by the efficiency of the support forces in keeping up with those on the front, than the effectiveness of the fire at the front. This was one reason why Dwight D. Eisenhower was such a great general; he was a logistical genius. He understood the importance of getting those supplies and support to the troops on the pointy end of the spear.

The same is true with God’s army and the battle we face. Two forms of service are required: There are the "fighters", and the "guards of the baggage." For example, there are the "teachers" and then there are those who support the teacher.

This truth is well illustrated in the New Testament during Christ's own ministry:

Luke 8:1–3 ESV

1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

You can clearly see that Jesus and His disciples had their own support staff who travelled with them.

Another example is the way the various churches supported Paul in his work.

2 Corinthians 11:8–9 ESV

8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.

Philippians 4:15–16 ESV

15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

In Paul’s writings we also see him being supported by certain individuals:

Philemon 22 ESV

22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Yes, to carry out God's battle, there must be preachers and teachers, and missionaries, but those that support the preachers and teachers and missionaries are a logical and essential part in the saving of souls.

God's army requires both; Those who are willing to serve at the front, on the pointy end of the spear, and those who are willing to serve back at the base’

Both Services are Important

This is certainly true in physical warfare. Sometimes we have tendency to thing that those on the pointy end of the spear are the most important, and indeed they are important, but we must not forget that battles have been won or lost based on logistical support.

This is just as true in the Body of Christ:

Romans 12:3–8 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

We learn that in the body of Christ (the church) there are many members. And each of the members do not have the same function:

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

We learn that growth depends upon the effective working by which every part does its share.

In 1 Co 12:12-22

1 Corinthians 12:12–22 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Paul stresses that all the members and their diverse functions are vital. No one can say that they themselves are not important. No one can say that others are not important.

Failure to realize this truth can be disastrous. It can leave many of the fellowship disappointed, apathetic, and therefore, fruitless. If we are not careful, we can over-emphasize one work to the neglect of others. For example, stressing evangelism to the neglect of education and benevolence.

Not recognizing each of these functions can make some feel that only one kind of work is worthy, noble, or important. With such a misconception, some may involve themselves in a work for which they are not suited or gifted and when failure comes, they become disappointed. Unless they are shown alternative ways to serve, they can become apathetic and fruitless. It often hinders the Lord's cause in spreading the gospel.

Lack of support has hindered many foreign or smaller works where evangelists were unable to raise support if those "at the base" don't appreciate the importance of their support, the Lord's body becomes handicapped in its ability to function.

Realizing the importance of both kinds of service, let no one despise one type of service over another. Let's find wherever we can best serve the Lord, and do so properly, which leads to our next point:

Both Services Seek the same Goal

In the case of David and his men, the men "at the base" weren't there because they were lazy or scared. Though exhausted, they were just as motivated as those who went on. Their families had been kidnapped, too!

But someone had to stay with the baggage, or the rest of the force might not have caught up with the enemy. When you account for the fact that their family was out there on the hands of the enemy, staying behind was a form of sacrifice. They did their job of guarding the baggage with the same goal, the same sacrifice, and the same zeal as those who pursued the enemy.

To fulfill our roles in the Lord’s army, we all need the same goal, the same sacrifice, and the same zeal.

So, what is our goal? We find it in:

1 Peter 4:11 “11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

To glorify God, whether in our service or in our teaching. A goal like this can transform even secular or mundane service into a sacred and important one. Some examples of service could be providing baby-sitting services to free up the parents to teach others, or working at regular job to help financially support missionaries in a foreign country.

What kind of sacrifice should we make as good stewards of the manifold grace of God?

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

Each person has a gift (or more), an ability, given to him by God's manifold grace. As stewards, we will one day give an account of how we have used the gifts that God gave us. We may not have the same talent, or same number of talents, but we are expected to do the best with what we have. We certainly shouldn't squander what has been given to us like the example of the parable of the talents in Matthew, chapter 25. While we may serve in different capacities, we should have the same sense of sacrifice!

Some believe preachers and teachers should be willing to sacrifice more than others, but is such a view consistent with what we are seeing here in the scripture? Should we not all have the same willingness to sacrifice if the need is there?

If the soldiers at the base sacrificed as much as they expected from the soldiers at the front, there would be an even greater number of things accomplished. Whatever our ability, whatever our service, God gives us the strength to do it. Shall we be slack with what God has given us? We should be zealous to utilize what we have in a manner worthy of God's gracious gift. It is not so much what service we render to God, but how we do it. And what sacrifice or zeal might be expected of one should be expected of all, for we seek the same goal!

Finally, let's quickly note the point that:

Both Services Receive the same Reward

We saw where David made this a law in Israel. He said, “they shall share alike." Whether they were on the pointy end of the spear or guarding the supplies, they received the same reward.

This principle is repeated in the New Testament: Jesus taught it in:

Mt 10:41-42 “41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

We see a similar illustration with regards to deacons, those who are servants of the church:

1 Timothy 3:13 ESV

13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion

Too often, the Lord's battle is hindered by the lack of support. Some may be willing to go and teach, but others may not be willing to support those efforts. Yet we have seen that both forms of service are equally important, and require the same goal, the same sacrifice, the same zeal, and receive the same reward wherever we may serve in the Lord's army at the front or at the base. I pray that we will serve as good stewards and with great zeal.

Speaking of the Lord's army, have you signed up, have you enlisted?

2 Timothy 2:3–4 ESV

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.