October 12, 2020 - At The Catch...

We have had these devotions going now for almost 19 full years… (this week is #980)… and I have talked often of coachability… teamwork… trust in the game plan… commitment… humility… etc. And I have used many different sports as examples to teach us these lessons. This week, while prepping for a message, I came across a word in the text that brought a new “sport” or “exercise” to mind… ROWING. In the English it is a very common word we find in the Scriptures… the word Servant; in fact, we find the word servant almost 900 times. Yet, in the original language there are a few of the times where the word that was translated servant is different… one that can carry the idea of being an officer or assistant to the king… but has the concept of being part of the “rowing team”!

As I studied the word a bit, I came across the following article and decided to simply share its content with you this week… in hopes of reminding us to listen to the Captain (Coach)… and to go shoulder to shoulder with one another in a common goal, working together! So, without further ado… “At the catch…” (Command to tell the rowers to put their oars in water in preparation to start rowing.)

The Work of an Under-Rower

SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 / OMAR C. GARCIA

HUPERETES

The word huperetes is one of the more unusual words for servant in the Greek language. The word huperetes means under-rower. The word originally referred to a rower on board a trireme or a war-galley. It later came to refer to someone who performed hard labor. Paul used this particular word when he wrote to the Corinthian believers.

“So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God” (1 Cor. 4:1).

5 Aspects of an under-rower’s work.

• An under-rower had to row to the captain’s beat.
• The under-rowers had to row together.
• An under-rower had to trust the captain.
• An under-rower was committed for life.
• An under-rower received no honor.

Paul modeled the attitude of an under-rower.

• He was submissive because he rowed to the captain’s beat.
• He was sensitive because he rowed in harmony with others.
   There are 35 “one another” passages in the New Testament.
• He was trusting because he didn’t care where he labored.
• He was dedicated because he was willing to die at his post.
• He was humble because he wanted no glory for himself, only for his captain.

We should adopt the attitude of an under-rower.

• Obey our master. Order our steps according to his cadence.
• Cooperate with our fellow servants. Sail with the fleet.
• Trust the Lord to guide us. Put His preferences above our own.
• Remain in service for a lifetime.
• Give Christ all the glory.