Perhaps you, like me, have been watching some of the 2012 Olympic coverage. There have been some incredible individual performances. Some of these athletes have been training for this moment for years. When you combine the obvious natural ability that these competitors possess with intense training and countless repetitions in practice, you end up with athletes who can compete with the best that the world has to offer.
As much as I have admired the individual performances of these Olympics, I am even more impressed with the team competitions. Why? Because team competitions require a dynamic that individual competitors don’t have to consider. Individual athletes only have to be concerned about their own performance. Team competitions require more from athletes. Here are some examples:
Team athletes have to work together to be successful. Team goals have to trump personal goals.
Team athletes must learn to compensate for the various strengths and weaknesses of the individual team members.
Team competitions require individual athletes to trust in and depend on the efforts of others on the team.
Team athletes must “pull their weight” or everyone loses.
Team athletes must share the responsibility for victories and defeats.
By now, I hope the parallels between teamwork in the Olympics and teamwork in the kingdom of God are obvious. If you claim to be a member of God’s team, then you should know that your team needs you. We all have to work together to be the best we can be. When we combine our efforts, we become greater than the sum of each individual part. We must build trust and dependence on each other. We must “be there” for the team and do our part. We share the credit for the successes and we share the responsibility for failure.
Our team needs us. This is the medal round of competition. The stakes are too high. We have worked too hard to give up now. “Run in such a way that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24).
God loves you!
Mike
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