Would you rather be a star player on a mediocre team or a role player on a great team?
This is a question I have pondered as I have watched the Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball Team play this post season, starting in New Orleans at the SEC Tournament, then on television in the NCAA Tournament. Coach John Calipari remarked recently to an ESPN reporter that seven of his players were 25+ scorers per game in high school. They were stars. They were the center of attention. Now they’re on a team, where, one could argue they’re all stars, but in reality they aren’t all “stars” in the sense that they are getting the majority of the attention (the only player that might hold true for is Anthony Davis).
Going from being a star to being a role player is a big adjustment. One that we as fans shouldn’t take lightly. Especially when we’re talking about 18 and 19 year old young men. I give Coach Calipari a lion’s share of the credit for molding a bunch of stars, incredible individual athletes, into a cohesive team who plays at consistently high levels of excellence. As someone who regularly works with young people, I think this is quite an accomplishment. Sacrificing personal glory for the good of the community is a commendable act.
As we continue our journey toward the cross during this season of Lent, I wonder if those words of Jesus might ring a little different in our ears, “Deny yourself.” The whole Kingdom enterprise is built on getting fallen human beings, just like you and me, to lay down their ego needs and wants in order to work for a greater good. Self-denial is at the heart of the Gospel.
As we remember the sacrifice of Jesus, what sacrifices is he asking us to make so that his purposes will prevail in and through us? Might we be called on to sacrifice some convenience, comfort, finances, energy, and time? How are we laying aside our self-focussed agendas in order to take up our cross and be role players on a Christ-glorifying team?