Teamwork
By Nancy Cox
WCFS Senior
Ever since I was young I have struggled with being a loner. I have to work really hard at coming out of my shell and reaching out to others. I have to force myself to ask for help when I need it, because I don’t like to admit when I’m wrong or in a jam. I’ve always liked to figure things out on my own, before I even think of asking for help. OK, so I’m doing the confession thing, but probably almost everybody struggles with some form of pride, or whatever you want to call it.
In any area of our life we will need to eventually admit our weakness and call out to God for help. It’s usually better to do it earlier than later. I tend to wait ‘till the last minute and then feel worse off because I made such a mess of things. Those of us who pride ourselves in being ‘self sufficient’ or so called, tend to be extremely argumentative and corrective, we are always trying to prove that we ‘know everything’ auà that the other person doesn’t know anything. When we are proven wrong, we have a hard time of humbling ourselves and admitting the cold fact that we are probably 99% of the time wrong…man that’s tough for me to swallow! (Matt. 18:4, 23:12; Pvrbs. 15:33, 29:23, 1 Peter 5:6)
So, what does this have to do with teamwork? Well, first off, loners don’t usually make it very far very quickly. Have you ever seen a football game where there is one guy on one side and a team of guys on the other? Well if you did, I’m sure he was either Spiderman, or he got smashed to smithereens on the kick off. In short you might think you’re Spiderman, but I hate to break it to you, you’re not. Nobody can make it through this world alone. We need each other, and most of all, we need God, in both football and in the spiritual side of life.
God is there to help us through the hard times, and to help us to learn to pull together as a team and get the things done that He wants us to do. It’s never good to try to work things out on your own. God says to call out to Him when you’re in trouble. He said that if two or more are gathered in His Name He will be in there in their midst (Matt. 18:19-20). The best way to make it through a hard time is to call out for help. When you are spiritually struggling cry out to God, and ask someone you trust to pray for you. God says to pray for each other (James 5:13-15).
There is strength in numbers, when we have Christ to back us, His word, those who have gone before us, and fellow believers that also need spiritual encouragement from each other. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of Witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1, 2. God wants us to walk in unity with each other and be willing to work with each other even if we are natural loners.
“Let brotherly love continue. (5) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ Heb 3:1, 3, 5-6
“With all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love, (3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.(4) There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” Eph. 4:2-5.