David went out to meet them, and answered them, If you be come peaceably to me to help me, my heart shall be knit to you; but if [you be come] to betray me to my adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
Again David puts the question, “If ye be come peaceably to me  to help me .” Mind this and mark it well: they that join with Christ must join in His battles, join in His labors, join in His self-sacrifice. We must come to His church not only to be helped, but to help. It is of no use your entering the army if you do not mean to fight; and it is of no use your uniting with the host of God unless you mean to take your share in the holy warfare. Many forget this, and look upon a religious life as one of sanctified selfishness. A great many stop the gospel plow. “Hi!” say they; “stop!” They want to ride on one of the horses. Yes, but the plowman has no opinion of such friends. Let them lead the horses or hold the plow-handles, or do something, or else let them take themselves off. Of course, I do not mean the sick and faint; but all fit for war must go to the war. There is something for every church member to do as well as to receive. They that join the Church of Christ must come to pull as well as to be pulled--come to work as well as to eat; and usually the rule is true in Christ's house as it ought to be in everybody else’s, “He that will not work, neither shall he eat.” They that do not labor in the cause of Christ will very soon find that they are not fed in the house of God. Why should they be? I count it no office of mine to carry bread and meat to sluggards and lie-a-beds: I would sooner feed swine. They who never do a hand's turn among us ought to be turned out from us. If ye be come peaceable to help us, then I speak for my Captain, and bid you welcome; but if you do not mean real service, please to march on.
