David was rejected by his father-in-law and king. He was now considered toxic by Saul’s army and servants. He was a fugitive with no place to call home. No doubt he felt abandoned by everyone except the LORD. But then God began gathering others around him. While David was hiding in a cave, his brothers and relatives joined him. Then others who were in distress, in debt, or discontented came to him so that his followers grew to four hundred men.

Jesus said:

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29, NKJV)

In following Jesus, we may need to sacrifice things and lose relationships. The road of discipleship can be difficult. But we will gain so much more.

David had left his home, his wife, and his friends, but now God gathered many others to him. Granted, they weren’t the first round draft picks. They were in distress, in debt, and discontented. Are these the kind of men you would choose for your army? But God saw something in them and gave them to David. Through his leadership, many would become mighty men, and many more would form David’s army. God chooses the weak things of the world to confound the wise.

I am convinced that the people I would choose are not the ones God would choose. I would choose people who had it together, but God chose people who had problems. David’s men had issues, baggage and attitudes. Among Jesus’ followers was a tax collector and a woman who had been possessed by seven demons. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Are we doing that?

The LORD gifted David to be a shepherd of His people. He loved them, fought for them, and protected them. Those who wouldn’t follow anyone else were pleased to call David their leader. Could it be that God would bring distressed, in debt, and discontented people to us? If so, then I pray we are ready to receive, love and disciple them.