TEAMWORK — Because There Is a Cause

“Is there not a cause?” — 1 Samuel 17:29 (NKJV)

David asked this question before he ever faced Goliath. Not after the victory. Before the battle.

“Is there not a cause?”

This was not rebellion. This was not pride. This was clarity.

David understood something his brothers missed: God’s causes are always bigger than personal comfort, personal rights, or personal reputation.

Cause Before Method. Relationship Before Program.

If the message does not point me to a personal relationship with God, it will eventually point me away from God.

If the method does not move me toward personal involvement with God, it will slowly move me away from God.

All churches. All preachers. All prayers. All programs.

They must encourage the pursuit of a personal relationship with God—never replace it.

Jesus said:

“And this is life eternal, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”— John 17:3 (NKJV)

Knowing God is the cause. Everything else is support.

From Slaves to Sons — Relationship Changes Everything

Paul explains this transition in Galatians 4:1–5 (MSG).

Before relationship, we lived under rules. Before maturity, under restriction. Before sonship, under supervision.

But when the appointed time came, God sent His Son—not to tighten control, but to redeem and adopt.

Now the Spirit cries within us, “Abba! Father!”

This makes one thing clear:

You are no longer a slave. You are a child. And if a child—then an heir with full access to the inheritance.

Rules Serve a Purpose — Relationship Reveals the Purpose

Rules are like teaching a child to look both ways before crossing the street.

A child obeys to avoid punishment. An adult obeys because they understand the danger.

When grace came, punishment was removed—but wisdom was not.

The question is no longer: “Will I get in trouble?”

The real question is: “Is this wise?”

Salvation is not dependent on our actions, but Satan exploits a lack of wisdom. Freedom without responsibility is not maturity—it’s vulnerability.

Teamwork Requires Selflessness

As people grow in ministry, they do not gain rights and privileges—they voluntarily lay some down.

Not by force. Not by control. By choice.

Higher responsibility means greater commitment—not greater privilege. We live this way for the benefit of others.

Selfless means:

• Gratifying self is not the motivator

• God’s cause comes before my cause

• Love compels us, not pressure

People who love God love God’s people. This is not merely a method—it is a way of life. And it must be modeled before it is required.

The Standard of the Team

We do not force anyone into sacrifice. But if someone desires to be part of the team, this is the standard.

We seek:

• Those who desire to serve

• Those willing to live sacrificially

• Those who choose alignment over independence.

By joining the team, you are saying:

“I will work the plan.” Not my plan—the plan.

We are coordinating a team, not running independent ministries under one roof. We are all on the same train, headed to the same destination.

Responsibility Increases — So Must Communication

The higher the responsibility:

• The clearer the expectations

• The stronger the communication

• The deeper the commitment

Leadership is not about privilege. It is about stewardship.

Why Teamwork Matters

You fulfill your calling:

• Faster

• More effectively

• With less stress

• And with greater peace

So why don’t more people build teams? Because team building delays gratification.

It’s like layaway versus credit. Layaway costs less but requires patience. Credit costs more and risks collapse.

Leadership without teams is like paying the minimum on a credit card—you never get free.

The Myth: “I Can Do It Faster Myself”

That may be true short-term.

But leaders who never train a team eventually complain:

• “No one takes initiative.”

• “No one knows how to do anything.”

The end result is always the same: burnout.

Shift the paradigm. Build the team.

Unity Is Action Around a Cause

No one can make a pencil alone. Wood from Washington. Graphite from South America. Rubber from Malaysia. Thousands cooperate to make one pencil.

Unity is not sameness. Unity is shared passion for a common cause.

When unity happens:

• Hostility dissolves

• Division loses power

• Gifts connect

• Anointings flow together

The result is a river of divine power.

Servants — Not Our Servants

In church, business, and life, we are either givers or takers. We must recruit, train, and develop:

• Servants of God

• Servants of His people

Not people with secret agendas.

It is impossible to offend a true servant.

When leaders build teams where people fulfill personal vision within the organization, leadership becomes influence rather than control. Synergy overcomes obstacles. Unity empowers people. Alignment accelerates momentum.