Trust, Hustle, And Rest

A dusty young boy bearing gifts for his kin trots a well worn path. He approaches the war camp of his Israelite brothers, wide-eyed and curious. He follows the combat dressed soldiers as they march to the field where a battle is to be had.

Thus begins the story of David and Goliath.

There are many lessons we can learn from this wonderful and striking tale. But, there is one thing at the very beginning of the story that is well worth exploring, especially for us entrepreneurs and creatives. That thing is balance. A balance between what we will call “trust” and “hustle.” This is masterfully displayed for us in the text above.

Here stands young David, the spirited shepherd boy, keeper of his father’s flock. David has just witnessed Goliath, the Philistine giant and great champion of war, heinously slander his people and their God. He is angry. He wants vengeance. So he marches up to King Saul and throws his hat in the ring. He will go out to fight this villainous Philistine. Saul protests. Goliath is veteran of war and David is just a boy. It is like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

David retorts. Then he exposes King Saul to a small glimpse of his life as a shepherd. He tells how at times he had violently struggled against bloodthirsty, ferocious beasts in the protection of his father’s sheep. With his own hands he has vanquished savage lions and bears. He is no stranger to battle. Thus, he is capable of triumphing over this despicable giant.

Yet, with David’s next breath, we get the other side of his story. David powerfully proclaims that it was in fact, “the Lord” who rescued him from the jaws and claws of these ruthless predators. David was keenly aware that God was at work in and through his life at every point. So, while it was his youthful muscles that swung the club, it was the Lord who ensured victory of the fight.

Herein lies the intricate balance of David’s life and ours. On the one hand, David hustled. He worked and fought hard. On the other hand, he trusted God. He believed God was with him in his work as a shepherd. Thus, he recognized that is was the Lord who ultimately rescued him in the struggles he endured. It was this balance in life that kept him from both pride and laziness.

This is a lesson we must well learn as Christian entrepreneurs—as those who have been called to create. We desperately need the balance exhibited by David. We hustle and labor in our God-ordained vocation and must learn balance to keep us upright and moving forward. As such, it is required that we couple the capacity to hustle with a robust trust in God. Put another way, we hustle with the ever-present understanding that it is in God we are trusting, not our own efforts.

Culled from: http://bible.com/r/1Aw