Teamwork

“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

TEAMWORK

“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (ESV)

Friendship is an intriguing connection. Relationships in general begin simple and basic, but grow to be complicated and even overwhelming. Friendships are ever changing and challenging. Every year it becomes easier to not make that weekly, monthly, or yearly call in order to catch up and stay in touch. It also seems to get harder and harder to meet new people and actually invest time to get to know each other.

However, the Bible encourages us to not live a lonely, secluded life. In the verse above we are simply told one of the benefits of having good friends. When the going gets tough it is always helpful to have a good friend to support you. Ecclesiastes says that we are stronger when we work together rather than alone. My first reaction is to write this verse off as common sense. The principle behind the passage is simple, right?

The more I think about this principle, the more I realize how many excuses I use to contradict this message weekly. The main reason that keeps me from experiencing the strength of working together is the overwhelming desire to do it myself. Today I drove back from a trip to Indiana. Before leaving I got verbal directions on a quicker route home from a friend. After driving 40 minutes, I had absolutely no idea if I was still going the right direction. It took me another hour until I called to find out if I was still on the right track. Luckily I somehow stayed on the right path home, but I could have easily driven over an hour in the complete wrong direction.

Keeping good friends close can prevent costly decisions. Being a good friend certainly is not an effortless task, but having friends that will step though life with us is more beneficial than we will ever be able to calculate.

This week is such a great time to thank people in our lives that have helped us when we needed it. It is also a great time to be there for someone that could use an extra hand.

Have a great Thanksgiving Chalk Talkers and enjoy your time off this week with friends and family.

-Matt Simmonds