Team Work

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you." ~1 Corinthians 12:21

During a rehearsal at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, the renowned conductor Arturo Toscanini offered some constructive criticism to the featured soloist. She was too proud to accept his help, however, and expressed her resentment by exclaiming in anger, "I am the star of this performance!" Toscanini responded wisely and firmly, "Madame, in this performance there are no stars."

The maestro made a strong point. The soloists, the members of the chorus, and the orchestra all have to work together in harmony or there can be no beautiful music.

Speaking of such, did you know the hardest orchestra position to fill is the “Second Chair.” Frankly, in our society no one likes to come in “second” but in the scope and context of soloists, the members of the chorus, and the orchestra, it is one of the most important positions.

The person who is “second chair” must not only know the their own portion of music, but they must also learn and know the first chair’s music as well. In the event the “First Chair” is unable to perform the “Second Chair” is called upon to fill in.

This is also true of the church. In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he likened the parts of our physical body to individuals in the church, the body of Christ. All of us as believers have our own unique traits and individual duties, but taken together we comprise one body. We must therefore recognize how much we need one another. Paul wrote, "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you'" (12:21).

The Lord isn't looking for soloists who want to be stars; He's looking for workers who are willing to be servants. God's work takes teamwork!

So, what about you? We also need to be available to come alongside when one of our members “falls.” Whether it be prayer, or by stepping in to perform that person’s function for a period of time, or to directly and lovingly confront someone when they are not behaving in a Christ-like manner we need to be prepared.

Yours, because we’re His,
~Tamara