Focus: What's Your Niche?

Text: Judg.20:16

"Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss."

What are you known for in this life? What do you have a knack for? What's your niche? Where lies your uniqueness? Do you know your area of strength or expertise? In your corner of the world, what are you known for? Do you know that it is from the standpoint of our uniqueness that we can celebrate our common humanity? So tell your world, where lies your power? In what way are you different from the rest of humanity?

It is in your area of expertise that you can impact your world. Our text reveals something important about the tribe of Benjamin. Among the army of Benjamin are more than seven hundred lefthanded men who are experts in the use of the katapult. They are very skilled in the use of it. They are known for aiming without missing. If their target is a strand of hair on a person's head, they will never fail to hit it. They have cut out a niche for themselves in that art, and they have earned a great reputation by it. By it they win battles against their foes and excel in life.

They thrive in that artistry or prowess. They made an indelible mark on biblical history by it. They built a name for themselves by it and left a legacy to the world around them.

Many years after, David surfaces on the pages of history. He is a man from Judah, not Benjamin, and it is said that "his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine" (1Sam.17:40). Just like the Benjamites, David is good at using the sling and the stone. He can hardly miss a target. He stands before Goliath unafraid of anything. Goliath has height and physique, and he boasts of a mighty armor. Yet David is confident in his God and his katapult. The Word says, "So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David" (1Sam.17:50). David aims at Goliath's forehead without missing it. He has five smooth stones in his hand, but he achieves success with just one. He is so good that one out of five stones kills giant Goliath.

Victory for Israel is achieved with only a stone. David demonstrates the fact that no one has monopoly on anything in this world. A man from Judah can also do what a people from Benjamin do. Men from Benjamin never miss a target, and David, too, hit his target without a miss.

Find your strength and use it. Find your place in history and fill it. Find your role, and fulfill it. Cut out a niche for yourself. Make a mark in history. Use your sling and stone. Aim right. You can make a difference in your corner of the world. What's your niche or prowess?

by Bishop Moses E. Peter