July 22, 2010
1 Corinthians 12
Pastor Paul Turbedsky
Legendary college basketball Coach John Wooden passed away last month at the age of 99. While at the UCLA helm, his teams captured an unprecedented 10 NCAA National Championships.
Yet there was nothing magical about his coaching style or philosophy. The focus was upon discipline, conditioning, and fundamentals. He put teams - not individual superstars – on the court. Games and championship were won when Coach Wooden’s most talented players came around to understand that selfless play and statistically-proven methods were more productive than any one player’s talent. Each player had a role, just as important as the next.
The same can be said about the body of Christ. We all have a unique role that is part of a team effort to strengthen and expand the Kingdom, while giving glory and honor to God.
In 1 Corinthians 12, we see God’s view on this:
- “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (verse 7) - When we use gifts and skills that God gives us, it is only then that His purpose is accomplished. He - not us - gets the glory. As we “play” on God’s team, it’s not about being the best, most polished and articulate, most talented or the most gifted. It’s about being the right person, on the right bus, in the right seat - just the way that God planned it.
- “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” (verse 18) - God planned that there would be great teamwork.
- “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” (verse 14) - Don’t ever allow yourself to feel like you’re alone with no help, and don’t think so much of yourself as not to ask for help.
In his memoirs, Coach Wooden wrote about it this way:
- Talent is God given. Be humble.
- Fame is man-given. Be grateful.
- Conceit is self-given. Be careful.
- Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
- Be prepared and be honest.
- Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
- Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters.
- The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.
- There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer.
- What you are as a person is far more important that what you are as a basketball player.
- You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
Get in the game and play your heart out.
A Pennsylvania native, Paul Turbedsky oversees visitation, benevolence and other aspects of congregational care, along with “Senior Saints” (senior adult ministries) and “Men of Grace” (men’s ministries).
