Team Players

The Apostle Paul really liked to give us every day things to help us understand what God wanted for and from us. Unlike Jesus though, whose pictures aren’t always easy for people today to relate to (shepherd’s, farmers, etc.) Paul drew from Roman life. I think the society we live in today is closer to that, making it easier sometimes to “get” what Paul is trying to tell us.

I’m reading Philippians right now, and chapter 1 verse 27 talks about “striving.” All the commentaries believe Paul is referring to athletic contests here. Though not as familiar with Roman sporting teams as I am with today’s sports, I’ve been thinking about whether or not I’m a team player.

I am a great team player…if I’m on a team I wholly agree with. But the way professional sports works, we don’t always get to choose the team we are on. Does that make me a team player, or not? Sad to say, I’m often not. If the saying is true that we’re only as strong as our weakest player, I’m grandstanding sometimes. A team is just that – a group working together. A team thinks alike and functions jointly, heading for the same goal. I realize that I’m falling short in helping those newer (or sometimes getting older) players on my team. I’m ready to run ahead of the rest, losing the support that’s needed in team sports. If there is no “I” in team, then Keith Drury is right that There is No I in Church either.