Why hold on?

It's been 3 years since I last visited Cambodia. This time I was privileged to see the work done since and its amazing how just keeping faithful to the task can do so much. This is what I told our Singapore staff.

Shammah - one of the 3 mighty men of David stood his ground on a field full of lentils and defended it. While all Israel fled, he struck the Philistines down and the Lord brought about a great victory (2 Sam 23:11-12). Are lentils worth dying for? No.

It was inheritance that Shammah guarded. He stayed when everyone fled. He fought because he was trained, he treasured his inheritance, he recognised his responsibility over it and there was no one else. Would the Lord not give victory? Not likely. The Lord was pleased with such faithfulness and devotion. It is not like Esau who despised his birthright. It is not like the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance. Shammah was His trophy of faith and faithfulness. He was the person for God to show His might, power and faithfulness.

And so it is. Even though we have no apparent fruit for showing, the fact that the work is still alive is because we have faithful Shammahs guarding and holding on to the precious plots till the sowers and planters return to till the land.

Praise God for the likes of Shammah!