Team Work Makes the Dream Work
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 2:3-5 NRSV
I know I should be writing about the eclipse and the complete wonder and awe of God’s perfect design for creation, but college basketball is still on my mind after Monday night’s men’s final – and another truth became even more evident.
“Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.”
It’s a cliche, but there is a reason UCONN beat Purdue on Monday night, despite Purdue boasting the two-time national player of the year. There’s also a reason that South Carolina beat Iowa in the women’s final, despite Iowa boasting the two-time national player of the year. There’s a reason the Texas Rangers won the World Series and the Los Angeles Angels keep finishing at the bottom of the barrel each year.
Those who won have better teams. The others have better individuals.
Dawn Staley, the coach of South Carolina, and Dan Hurley, the coach of Connecticut, both made similar statements. They tell their NBA/WNBA caliber recruits, “If you come here you might not be the player of the year, because you won’t score as many points, because you won’t be the only player that matters. But, if you come here, you’re going to win a ring.”
I wonder how many recruits hear a message of selflessness and walk away in favor of recognition, preference, and special treatment?
One of Paul’s consistent obstacles to overcome in the New Testament is the combination of pride and doubt that exists in human beings. Pride that they are more than they actually are, and doubt that God’s upside-down way of living will actually work for them. “Dying with Christ” to Paul isn’t just about our sins being washed away, but a complete giving of ourselves over to the way, truth, and life of Christ. In nearly every letter, Paul addresses selfishness and skepticism – except for the Philippians.
Paul loves the Philippians. They sent him gifts, company, and sustenance when he was in prison. Even when he gets into the advice portion of his letter he starts with, “To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard,” with safeguard meaning he’s only reiterating the healthy practices they are already doing. Like…looking after one another’s needs. Acting like a team. Utilizing their spiritual gifts as one body and not one person hoping to gain from the spiritual gifts of the body.
You know…being a good church.
Teamwork, dependence upon others, and selflessness are regular ideals lifted up in scripture. Even the hero archetype of “the lone soldier” gets erased when the Messiah, Jesus himself, tell his disciples, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:2) What I like to remind people of is that Jesus uses “greater” to mean quantity, not quality. It’s not that we will surpass Jesus’ miracles and wonders, it’s that Jesus is going to give us Holy Spirit because it’s now our job to share God’s love.
I’m always proud to see when Creekwood shatters the mythology that only one person matters and showcases the Biblical ideal of teamwork/community. This happens every week, as there is no way I can greet, usher, preach, sing, run the media, teach Sunday school, cut donuts, keep security, etc. all by myself. It happens when we participate in “Share the Love” this Sunday or join Pastor Wendy’s visitation team.
Thank you to those who give yourselves to something greater, whether that be at church or another community-enriching organization. Teamwork is what will make the dreamwork, and that dream is the love-centered community proclaimed at the end of Revelation and shown in the early chapters of Acts.
Thanks for doing your part.
Peace,
David Lessner
