December 28–Selflessness 

Happy Thursday to you! Are you having a great time watching to bowl games? I know there are those who aren’t avid football fans, but for those of us who love college ball, this is a great time.  


One of the things I think that makes football such a great sport is the teamwork—there is absolutely no way a team can be successful if everyone on the team doesn’t do their part. It only takes one weak link on either side of the ball to give a huge advantage to the opponent. Even the very best quarterback has to have a solid front line, strong backs for the run game and receivers who will catch anything close. It can’t be done well with a selfish attitude, it has to be one of selflessness. 

Jesus our perfect example of selfless tells all of us to think more highly of others and lay aside our pride. The Apostle Paul understood the power of working together as a team explaining how we can only reach our goals by common effort. 

To the church at Philippi:

“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:2-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Working together with one mind and one purpose—that’s true teamwork. Paul pointedly addresses the most destructive force of all, selfishness, the root of all sin. The “what’s in it for me” attitude gets no team moving the chains. Paul is telling us not to focus on what we do well but on others and their gifts. 

In the 1964 Olympics, the British 2-man bobsled team led by Tony Nash, was doing very well when they saw they had a broken bolt on their sled. The Italian sled-driver Monti gave a bolt from his sled to Nash so they could finish the race. The Britts took first place and the Italians 3rd. When he was asked later about it, Monti said “Nash didn’t win because I gave him a bolt. He won because he was the best driver.” Later, Monti was given the Olympics highest award for sportsmanship. Putting others’ needs above our own is the model of unselfishness Jesús wants to see in us. 

Today, practice unselfishness. Even when you think about others, practice focusing on them and their gifts. Whatever helps you to be agreeing together, loving each other, and working together with one mind and one purpose, think on those things. 

Love you dear one,

Pam

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