The People You Need Around You as a Leader (Gleaned from David’s Mighty Men—Helpers of the War)

Anchor Scripture: 1 Chronicles 12:22 “For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.”

As a leader, you need people to help you. You may achieve much on your own, but you can achieve far more when you are surrounded by the right people. David, a mighty man himself, needed mighty men around him.

Scripture shows us that leadership is not a solo journey (at least not entirely). God intentionally brings helpers, warriors, advisors, and strategic people around leaders to strengthen the vision He has placed in them.

Before looking at the kinds of leaders David had around him, it is important to understand the qualities that made these men fit to help a leader.

The Kind of People Qualified to Help Leaders

1. Men who are leaders themselves

David’s helpers were not weak men. They were mighty men (1 Chronicles 12:1). They possessed strength, skill, courage, and initiative. A strong leader should not be afraid to surround themselves with other strong leaders.

2. Men with the spirit of God

1 Chronicles 12:18 shows that the Spirit of God came upon Amasai, one of David’s mighty men. Skill alone is not enough. Capacity without the Spirit can become dangerous. The people around a leader must be spiritually awake and sensitive.

3. Men with perfect hearts

1 Chronicles 12:38 says these men came to David with a “perfect heart” or a “whole heart.”

They were united in purpose. No hidden agendas. No divided loyalties. Their hearts were committed to the mission to make David King. Not themselves, but David. A leader must surround themselves with people who are secure, loyal, and single-minded concerning the vision.

Types of Leaders Every Leader Needs Around Them

Notice I did not say subordinates. David himself was a mighty man, yet God still gave him other mighty men to help him. Unlike Saul, who became jealous of David, David allowed the leaders around him to thrive. Some of them even made decisions David did not always agree with, ie, Joab, yet David still gave room for them to thrive.

A secure leader understands that empowering other leaders does not diminish their authority.

Insecurity often leads to hasty and damaging decisions that eventually hurt leadership in the long run. As a leader, you will constantly be surrounded by other gifted people. The question is whether you will collaborate with them or allow ego, envy, and insecurity to get in the way. Now let's talk about the type of leaders every leader needs around them;

1. Leaders Who Can Run With the Vision

David had men:

“Who could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows.” — 1 Chronicles 12:2

A. Men who could shoot arrows

These were men who could aim accurately and move with focus. In leadership, these are people who can take one idea and run with it with singular purpose. These are proactive leaders, not people who sit around waiting to be instructed on every detail. Give them vision and direction, and they move.

1 Chronicles 12:33 also describes men with “singleness of purpose.” Every leader needs people around them who know how to stay focused on the mission.

B. Men who could use both the right and left hand

This speaks of adaptability and again, proactiveness. If one method failed, they could function with another. They did not waste time making excuses. They adjusted and continued the assignment. Leaders like this know how to pivot without abandoning the vision. Every leader needs people who can function under pressure and still produce results regardless of changing circumstances.

C. The Benjaminites

These men were Benjaminites from Saul’s tribe. This was the same tribe that had almost been wiped out because of the sin involving the Levite’s concubine. Despite this history, here they are. Though they came from the tribe of the reigning king (Saul), once they decided to follow David, they followed wholeheartedly. Every leader needs resilient people who are committed to the vision regardless of circumstance.

2. Experienced Warriors

1 Chronicles 12:8 describes another group of David’s men as:

“Mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.”

A. Mighty and experienced warriors

These were seasoned men who knew what they were about. In today’s context, these can be likened to mentors, and people who have walked paths you are about to walk. They have fought battles, gained wisdom, and learned lessons through experience. You need people around you who know what they are doing.

B. Experts with shield and spear

Scripture does not only say they had experience, it says they were experts with shield and spear.

That means they had built capacity through experience. Many people have gone through battles or may have walked the path you are about to but not everyone has developed expertise from those experiences. A leader must ask:

• What specific wisdom does this person carry for my journey?

Do not align yourself with people simply because they are “good people.” Understand the value and capacity they carry and how that aligns with your own journey.

C. Men more than meets the eye

The Message Bible translation says these men were “wild in appearance but agile as gazelles.”

These are leaders who are more than meets the eye. They may be underestimated by others, but you recognize the greatness within them. Some of the most powerful people God sends into your life may not look impressive outwardly, but they carry unusual strength and effectiveness.

1 Chronicles 12:14 says: “The least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand.”

These are the kinds of people who accelerate vision. They are your engines. Your warriors. The people working faithfully in the background to ensure the assignment succeeds. And importantly, these men had a track record (1 Chronicles 12:15). Leadership requires trustworthy people with proven character and tested strength.

3. Men Who Understand the Times

Another important group came from Issachar. 1 Chronicles 12:32 says they were “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” These are strategic thinkers, analysts, discerning men, prophets, and wise counselors. Every leader needs people who can accurately discern seasons and guide them accordingly. In a constantly changing world, leaders need other leaders who can help them navigate life, opportunities, dangers, and the muddy waters of life. These are the men who help your leadership remain effective and relevant. You need such people around you.

Conclusion

1 Chronicles 12:38 says all these men came with a “whole heart” to make David king. As much as a leader must be secure, they must also surround themselves with secure people. The leaders around you should be united in purpose, not divided by ego, ambition, or hidden agendas. If people are gathered around a vision, there must be a common pursuit.

The people around you should see something worth building with you and should remain committed regardless of circumstance. Singleness of purpose matters.

May God help us by giving us such leaders and making us such leaders, in Jesus’ name, Amen.