Teammates

As I have mentioned before there are many great things that I have learned through sports. I have learned patience, perseverance, victory, defeat, etc. However, one of the things I cherish most in athletics is the opportunity to be part of a team. Teammates have a special bond with one another. It is a group of guys, or girls, striving toward the same goal. Each person may have a special individual goal but the collective goal of the group is the same. Being part of a team is a special thing and it can often be overlooked. Being part of a "team" is also something that is often overlooked in our spiritual lives. We read in Genesis 4:1-10 about the story of Cain and Abel. In verse 9 we see where God asks Cain where is brother Abel is and Cain replies, "... I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?" This scripture has been looked at from the pulpit many times. We are asked the question, are we our brothers keeper? Well I am here to tell you that to an extent, yes you are. Just like on a sports team when a guy makes a mistake or possibly shows a lack of effort you, as a teammate, are suppose to be there to pick his spirits up or get him in gear. It is your job as a teammate to try to make sure that he is working as hard as he can to help the team reach their goal. (Of course this is to be done after you have already made sure you are doing all you can to reach the goal.) Now, if that guy won't listen to your advice then there is nothing you can do about it, but at least you tried to help pick him up and help him improve. The same can be said of our spiritual lives. When we see a brother mess up(as we all will according to Romans 3:23) we need to be there to pick his spirits up. If we see a brother not putting forth the effort to served the Lord and do his will then we need to be there to try and get them in gear. After all as Christians we should all have the same goal in mind, Heaven. I think that Proverbs 27:17 says it best, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." We must be there to help keep our teammates strong in the word and surely they will do the same for us as well. We can not win the game alone, whether it be in sports or in life. We need good coaching, which God has laid out for us in his word, and we need good teammates to help keep us along the right path to reaching the goal.

-Ben Stevenson

"When you need a friend, you can always count on your teammates." -Jim Brown