It is the opinion of many that John Wooden was the greatest men’s college basketball coach ever. At UCLA, he won 10 National Championships and had an 88 consecutive games winning streak. And many also feel that Pat Summitt, from the University of Tennessee was the greatest women’s college basketball coach ever. She had more wins (1,098) than any other women’s coach, and more than all but one (Mike Krzyzewski of Duke) of the men’s coaches. Her teams made it to the NCAA Tournament every year of her 38-year career.
And what do these two famous coaches stress? Teamwork.
Perhaps one of the most important lessons of life is how to be a team member. Many talented people fail or accomplish only at a mediocre level, because they do not know how to work on a team. For those who wonder why things don’t progress, or dreams are not achieved, consider that getting a handle on the joy, blessings, and fulfillment of working together as a team might make all the difference.
You don’t have to be a star to be on a team. I would say that all those Tennessee and UCLA players on these two coaches’ teams were far prouder to have played on a team that accomplished great things and was coached by such a legendary coach than of any degree of their own talent. These two coaches didn’t just teach them about basketball, they taught them about life!
A team player is humble enough to let others be first. A team player knows that accomplishing something together produces a greater joy than doing something by ourselves. A team player knows that when it doesn’t matter who gets the credit, amazing things can happen. And a team player doesn’t go around saying “I” accomplished something … they say “we” did.
Two takeaways …
First … If teamwork is a difficult thing for you, renew your determination to be a team player. Take the humble approach of letting others know you like working together. God will lift you up through this process.
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” – Jesus (Luke 14:11)
Second … If you usually do well getting along with others and operating as a team, look around at those who might not. These are not mean people. They are often interested in being a part of the team, but don’t have your smooth skills at fitting in. And they are not going to force their way in. They might be waiting for a supporter or “sponsor” … someone who will invite them in, promote them to others, help them discover their contribution and enjoy teamwork. I remember younger times when certain persons used their influence to help others accept me into the group discussion by asking me to share my thoughts. This did a lot to help me discover my worth and contribution.
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
Here’s a question – Are you thinking this isn’t really a “spiritual” topic today? After all, the Bible doesn’t specifically talk about God’s people practicing teamwork – or does it? It may not use the word team, but essentially this is what Paul was talking about when he described the Body of Christ. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1st Corinthians 12:12-14)
Our culture emphasizes individuality, but in the Christian community we do not as individuals choose whether we want to be part of the Body or not. We are already “one Body” by definition. The choice we make is “am I going to refuse to be what I am made for, an indispensable member of the Body of Christ.” And no single part of the Church is more important than another. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1st Corinthians 12:24b-26)
It is our job to help every member to feel included, to fulfill their purpose, and to honor one another. We all need God’s help – but also, God’s team needs you, and you need God’s team. There is no greatest or least among us – we are one.
Go team!
Chaplain Mark