“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
Being a team player requires us to commit to a better purpose outside of our own gain. It requires a deep change inside that compels us to act differently. Teamwork is created over time and is the product of practice, trust, and vision. Can you think of the best team you were ever apart of? Maybe that team won every game, or maybe they didn’t win a game all. Great teams don’t solely boil down to statistics and records. The best teams boil down to the players that bought into the system and strived towards the common goal.
Great teammates realize that they are only as strong as their weakest link. When I was an underclassman in high school, our best distance runner, a three time All-American, had a season ending injury. The 4x800 team had high hopes to qualify for states that year and throughout the season the coaches searched for someone to fill the All-American’s spot. After getting a chance to run the 800 for the first time that season, I began to train with the rest of the relay team. I never felt compared to or judged by the position that I filled. My teammates had a greater purpose than winning and they didn’t just look out for their own interest. Instead, the team supported me and trained me to be the best I could be.
In whatever we do this week, I hope that as a group we can start to put the interests of others ahead of our own. It can be really hard to search our own hearts and realize what our true motives are. How much different would our world look if we became great team players at work, home, and in our communities?
- Matt Simmonds
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