No I in Team
We’ve all heard the coach’s pep talk, “There’s no I in TEAM” intended to build camaraderie among team members and a reminder to not be a ball hog. We may have heard the same thing in a business environment where it or something like it—“We all work for the same company here”—is preached if not practiced.
Generally speaking, an organization will perform better if everybody has that mindset. If you’re very good at what you do, let your results speak for themselves. Nobody likes arrogance or boastful pride. But I want us to consider just where we—or in line with this topic, “I”—fit in.
The other day,
I was musing over the placement of the letter I in two words that have nearly opposite meanings. I only noticed it because I made a typo and my word-processing software didn’t catch it because both were legitimate words. The words: complaint and compliant.
For sure, in our society today, we have much that we could offer complaint about; ranging from politics (especially) to citizen activist anger to world unrest for which there seems no solution. But ask yourself these questions: Where did it come from? Why now at this time in world history? Why does it seem to be everywhere on the world stage? Is there anything besides war that can fix it?
As with everything I write, my sole source for truth is the Word of God, the Bible. True to form, we find the answer there: “Why should any living mortal or any man offer complaint in view of his sins? (Lam. 3:39)”and “Do all things without complaining or arguments (Phil.2:14)”. With the number of verses that mention complaining, it must be important to God.
When we complain,
it’s the equivalent of an accusation against God that He doesn’t know what He’s doing or He’s not watching or aware of what’s impacting me. Is that really where you want to be? More backup: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom.8:28). And “…God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able…” (I Cor. 10:31).
Having said that, do not infer I am saying that being compliant is an all-inclusive category that we must bend the knee to. Yes, God tells us to obey the government (Tit. 3:1), but not if their rules violate God’s law. He also gives examples of how to approach rulers in humility to achieve our goal. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t include civil disturbance, rioting and looting.
The answer to the questions above
is not found in politics, or the classroom, or in gender modification, but in a heart transplant. “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezek. 36:26).
If you haven’t experienced this heart transplant from the One who created your heart and promises that “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come…”—and this includes a new heart—hear what Jesus says to you: “He who comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37).
This post gives you a simplistic example
of how big a difference putting “I” in the wrong place can make in just the definition of a word. Ask yourself “Am ‘I’ in the right place (with Jesus) so that when I die, for sure I’ll be in the right place.”
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord and where you’ll spend eternity and you want to but don’t know how, turn to the section “Steps to Salvation” for a simple explanation of how to meet Jesus.
If you do know Jesus as Savior and Lord, there’s someone in your sphere of influence that doesn’t. Suit up it’s time to share the gospel with them. I hope to see you there.