The Value of Staying Behind

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics was not the fastest, the tallest or the most coordinated player on a basketball court, but for years this "white man who couldn't jump" dominated the game all because he knew the value of staying behind.

You see when the rest of the players would head in to the locker room after yet another long boring practice session, Bird would stay behind and shoot another 3,000 shots in order to perfect his craft.

Tiger Woods will go down in golf history as the greatest player who ever picked up a golf club all because he understood the value of staying behind.

You see when all the other boys were out on in the neighborhood riding bikes and chasing girls, Tiger was out on the driving range hitting thousands of balls with his dad. Staying behind has payed off for Tiger Woods. He's now a household name.

There was also a biblical character who became a household name in the shadow of the man whom he served. Joshua also understood the value of staying behind. You see when Moses forfeited his opportunity to take God's people over the river into the promised land, it was Joshua who was ready all because he knew the value of staying behind.


Ex 33:11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. NASU

There is something about a person that marks them when they are willing to forego the crowd and stay behind, you know, go the extra mile. It affords them opportunities to make an impact in their sphere of influence.

When was the last time you decided to stay a little longer in the "tent of meeting?" Would you decide today that like Joshua, you will tarry in God's presence a little longer than the crowd?

As for me, "I'm going to hang back in the tent for a while. No, you go on ahead, I'll catch up with you later. I'm just going to stay in His presence a bit longer."

In the Tent,
Jimmy