July 7, 2008 - Teamwork Demonstrated

Teamwork! We hear the word used often in both the sports arena and in the everyday world. Corporate teachings talk about teamwork. It is mentioned in the classroom. And event he church talks about it.

Yet basketball is a sport where the idea of teamwork is often not fully understood, especially with kids (and their parents.) For some reason in basketball people get uptight if they (or their) kids are not getting to shoot the ball as much as another. They get upset if they (or their kids) are not put in the exact position they want.

Yet not every player is as skilled at each requirement. On a team some are better shooters than others; some handle the ball better; etc. Think about it. In football how often does a lineman get to carry the ball? Pass the ball? Catch the ball? The lineman has a specific job. In baseball how often does the right fielder get to pitch? In racing how often does the tire changer get to drive in the race? In these other sports we much more understand teamwork.

In basketball, like life (and the church), things seem to revolve around who gets the glory. People want to be noticed. Coach Dick Bennett has an offense called the “blocker-mover” offense. In it guys are designated as either a blocker or a mover. A blocker’s job is to set screens to free up the movers. A blocker can get a shot but it is usually as a secondary cutter – definitely not the first option. In other words some guys know their jobs are not to be the scorers. And remember these are young men good enough to be division 1 basketball players. They were probably big time scorers in high school; but find themselves put in a different role – a role that demands an understanding of teamwork.

Teamwork simply put is “players plugging in to the spot they are needed and doing the job without concern for who gets the glory.”

Are you plugging in to your spot? I’m not talking about the basketball court here. Are you filling your role in the body of Christ?

Throughout the Scriptures we see the reminders of the church being a body with many different gifts. I was reading Nehemiah chapter 3 this morning as it starts the role call of who was repairing the walls of Jerusalem. We find people of all different occupations stepping in to fill their roles. There are goldsmiths, perfumers, merchants, leaders, sons, and daughters. It is a beautiful picture of teamwork with each group having an assigned role.

Yet there is one group of people that stood out to me. I hope you are not like them. In Nehemiah chapter 3, verse 5 it says that the “Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.”

Maybe they were too good for menial labor? I hope you are not too good for the work of your Lord. Get busy! You are part of a team!