1 Samuel 17:20
“And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a
keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to
the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for
the battle.”
You would be hard-pressed to find a person who doesn’t enjoy the story about
David and Goliath. The reason this story is so loved is because we all love it when the underdog wins. We love it that a young teenage boy defeated the great champion warrior of his day. Even those in the world who don’t love God will often quote the story of David and Goliath when they’re talking about going against the odds to win.
However, as much as we love this story, we often miss the great truth that led up to this event. David didn’t defeat Goliath by chance, but he defeated him because of his character that guided him up to this event in his life. If David had no character, he would have never volunteered to fight Goliath. The character of David, the giant killer, prepared him for the life-turning event of his life. Character is what prepares the person to become a giant killer when the opportunity arises. Character makes the prepared look lucky. Let me share with you several character attributes that David had that made him into a giant killer.
First, David was an early riser. You won’t slay giants by sleeping in every day. The giant killer will get more work done while others are asleep because they rise well before those who sleep late.
Second, David took care of responsibilities. David cared for his father’s sheep without being told, even when he had to go out of town. Responsibilities may not be exciting, but character causes you to care for them when you don’t feel like doing them, or when you want to do something else. Caring for your responsibilities daily without being told is a great contributor to accomplishing great things in life.
Third, David did right when he was alone. Nobody watched David care for the sheep, but he didn’t need someone to look over his shoulder to do right. If you want to be a person who does great things for God, you must learn to do right without others telling you to do right all of the time.
Fourth, David obeyed authority. Obedience in the small things is what prepares you to be obedient with the big things. Most people are looking for the big things, but don’t realize that their obedience in the “insignificant” reveals whether they are ready to take on the greater task. If you can’t obey authority, you are not qualified to lead others.
Fifth, David cared for the little things. In verse 22, David made sure the chariot was safe when he went to talk to his brothers. The little things that most people overlook are often the very thing that is the big thing that prepares you to be a giant killer. Nothing can be small if you are going to do something great for God. Every “small” task must be a “great” task if you are going to become a person who seizes the great opportunities of life.
Sixth, David cared for the name of God. In verse 26, it bothered David that nobody stood up to Goliath when he defied God. When you become more concerned with the name of God than you are with your well-being is when God knows that you are ready to slay the giant opportunities of life.
