Shamgar

The Bible is literally filled with wonderful heroes. Yet, most people have heard very few sermons preached about the man named Shamgar. Shamgar gets 2 verses in all of the Bible. Just 42 words are said about Shamgar in Judges 3:31 and 5:6. Yet this man’s story is so important that one of my favorite books was written about him in 2004 by Pat Williams, Jay Strack, and Jim Denny. If you've never read this book, The Three Success Secrets of Shamgar , I challenge you to read it today. I think it's one of the most powerful works of literature ever written to encourage pastors and churches in our generation.

In the book the authors share three principles that they derived from Shamgar and I want to emphasize those points in my blog today. I believe the Lord laid this upon my heart because some believe that their inadequacies in ministry are best left unknown and undisturbed. They talk a good game, but fail to finish what God has called them to do because of various circumstances. These three principles of Shamgar encourage us to make the best out of what God has given us and trust God when it comes to our personal shortcomings.

What are those three success secrets of Shamgar?

-You start where you are.
My son laughs at me some times when I use personal references regarding myself, but I know me better than anyone else. I also know that many people, regardless of their spiritual status, like to be recognized and make advances in any profession. I found out through personal experience that some advances are of your own choosing and God has very little to do with them. You think you are following the leading of the Lord, but you allowed other influences to make you hear what you want to hear so you can make that advance. Shamgar just made up his mind that he was not going to give up or in to the enemy's advances. He blotted out every thought that said "Retreat" or "Move" and started his defense of the territory that God gave him right where he was. He believed right where he was he could defeat the enemy.

How about you? Have you gotten discouraged like I did in the past and thought that moving was the answer? Have you allowed other voices to supersede the voice of God about leaving your territory? Shamgar, according to Jewish tradition, was just a farmer. He was not a skilled warrior, but a tiller of the land. Yet, he refused to think about going somewhere else because he was convinced, if he was going to stop the enemy, the place where he was located was the best place to start. I always heard it said at camp meeting every year by a night evangelist things were about to change in your ministry. I am convinced now they would have many years ago if I had stayed where I should have and trusted God to do what needed to be done.

-You use what you've got.

Too many times we've tried to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It just doesn't work. I know people and churches get into a frozen mindset and it will drive a pastor crazy. He or she goes to a seminar and the speaker's tell you all kind of stuff that worked for them and inspires them to go home and try it in their church. When they do and it doesn't work the enemy begins to work in or through people and problems begin. Our society has changed so much that some of our methods and ways of the past don't affect people any more, but convincing a congregation of that can be mind-blowing. On the other hand, changing a bunch of what did work to satisfy your personality can backfire as well. So do what Shamgar did. Take what you've got and use it. All he had was an ox-goad. No sword, spear, or shield-just an ox-goad; but with it he slew six hundred men and delivered Israel. Whatever your ox-goad is, find it, and use it to the best of your ability to slay the enemy and deliver your church.

-You do what you can.

The worst mistake I ever made was to try to do more than I was capable of. Nobody wants to admit their weaknesses, but I had mine and failed to recognize them until it was too late physically. So many think that to change the world people have to become like them, but it  really doesn't work that way. God didn't call us to save everybody, but to preach the gospel to every creature. We can't handle every problem that people face and there is no shame in admitting that. Just like Shamgar you do what you can when you can and in some you will make a difference. Some will fall through the cracks and some you will never please no matter what you do. If you do more than you're able it will catch up to you someday spiritually, mentally, and physically. All you can be is the person God called you to be and all you can do is the best that you can for His glory.

I marvel at my peers who have long-standing pastorates. They may not admit it, but they have lived by these Shamgar principles and their longevity at their churches has proved they work. Some have been through splits, seen the backsliding of faithful people they never thought would fail, and suffered through gossip and lies that would make you blush. They've faced financial crisis, ruin, and despair, but they stood their ground, have used what was given them, and done the best they could to defend God's territory. Let our prayer be that God will raise up more Shamgars in America and in the church today.