2 Samuel 3:30
"So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle."
One of the amazing things about David's reign is the men who helped him. Joab was one of those men who I'm sure that David would have considered a right-hand man. Joab was involved in David's life from the beginning. The Scriptures do not make it clear whether David and Joab were friends in their childhood, but it would not surprise me if they were.
Joab was certainly a strength to David's reign. Joab was the man who led in the ascension to the throne of Israel. When the house of David and Saul were battling each other, it was Joab who led David's troops. It was Joab who was the general of David's troops through most of his life. Many of God's enemies were conquered because of Joab's strength to lead.
Yet, though Joab was a strong leader, he also had many weaknesses that at times were a hindrance to David. Very early in David's reign you will see the bitterness of Joab when his brother was slain by Abner. In an action of deceit, Joab slew Abner which weakened David's ascension to the throne. It was Joab who craftily brought Absalom back after he slew his half-brother.
Though Joab had many strengths, he also had many weaknesses. What I love about David is that he was able to overlook and overcome Joab's weaknesses by using his strengths for God's advantage. Instead of throwing away a man whom most would not have put up with, David found a way to let Joab's strengths be used.
Leaders should learn from David's example of using the strengths of individuals to further the cause of Christ. If a leader is not careful, they will not use anyone because they see the weakness of every follower. Great leaders are ones who learn how to take the strengths from an individual and use them for God's glory. It may take some creativity to find a way to use them, but leaders are supposed to be creative. As a leader you would be wise to find a way to use a person's strength in spite of their weaknesses because that is the only way they are going to grow.
Moreover, Christians need to learn to overlook the weaknesses of others and learn from their strengths. We live in a gossip society that loves to destroy leaders and people. It is not hard to find weaknesses in any person, for all people are sinners. Instead of spending your time focusing on the weaknesses of others, you would be wise to learn from their strengths. Don't let the weaknesses of individuals rob you from the lessons of their strengths. When you discover the weakness of someone, move on and continue to see their strengths.
Furthermore, every individual needs to be careful not to let their weakness keep them from using their strengths. We all know our own weaknesses. If we are not careful, we will allow our personal weakness to keep us from using the strengths we do have. Friend, you are not the only one who has a weakness. Yes, you should try to correct your weakness, but while you're working on correcting it don't let your strength go to waste. Take the strengths you do have and use them for the LORD.
Every strength has a weakness. You can either let the weakness rob you of the help and lessons that strength can give, or you can overlook the weakness and use the strength for God's glory. Don't let strength's weakness rob you from using it. As David found a way to use Joab in spite of his weakness, you need to find a way to learn from strength and let the strength help you become a better Christian.