One of our main objectives as parents is to prepare our children to be successful adults. We’re delighted when our children remember their “please” and “thank you” and learn how to be good team players. But, if our teenagers don’t show any signs of sincere gratitude, such ungrateful attitudes are usually a sign of a person who believes that they are entitled to whatever they want!

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:16 ESV)

Watching our teenage son being swept up in this selfish behaviour, we chose to send him to an outbound school run by lay ministers. Every winter, the boys went on snowshoe runs that lasted for most of the day. Each team was divided equally with both strong and weaker boys. Team leaders would tie a long scarf around their waist and around the waist of their most vulnerable member. This was called “scarfing.” There was never any animosity, just one goal in sight, and that was to ensure that every individual would finish the race.

Talk about character building! Many CEOs of successful companies realize that their company’s successes lie in the strength of the collective team, not in a single individual. Growth and strength depend on their unity of purpose.

Our Sovereign God created us to be team players, not to stand alone. Church leaders know that to build up the church body and grow in faith, we need each member to be a team player.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:3-5 NIV)

The bottom line is that we need each other. How much sweeter the taste of success is when it is shared with others as team players.

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” – Brene Brown

Prayer: Dear God, please fill us with Your Spirit of love and unity among believers. Teach us to set aside our differences and look to the greater cause, the cause of Christ. Help us to live a life full of love and compassion for one another. Unite us in spreading Your gospel. Amen.

Lois Macdonald <loismacs5@gmail.com>
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Encourage Today’s Writer