“Who can tell me how to be a good teammate?” I asked as we huddled at the end of practice. Little dirt covered hands shot up everywhere. They could barely contain themselves for they knew a correct answer would win them one of those prized baseball cards that filled my sweatpant pockets. “Don’t beat anyone up!” yelled one t-baller. I couldn’t help but crack up laughing at this response even though he wasn’t wrong. “Cheer for your teammate!” said another. “Help a teammate up if they fall!” shouted another. It didn’t take them long to remember and act on these. We had talked about these qualities several times and even stopped practices to highlight these displays of character. 

Although we had gone over so many ways to be a good teammate for several weeks, something important occurred to me as they answered me that day. Biblically speaking, being a good teammate is synonymous with loving our neighbor. Showing good character and sportsmanship on the baseball field (whether it’s your team or opponent) translates to loving our neighbor in real life. It took a t-ball team to simplify this for me a bit. 

Perhaps the Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the best examples we see in scripture of being a good teammate. A Samaritan man stops to help a Jewish man who had been robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. (Luke 10:25-37) It’s safe to say that Samaritans and Jews weren’t on the same team at that time so this was a pretty big deal. It would’ve been unthinkable for a Samaritan to help a Jew. The Samaritan spotted the man in need as he traveled and immediately showed compassion. After some wound care, he set the man on his donkey and took him to a hotel for a place to sleep. I would’ve loved to hear the conversation between the two men. Do you think the Samaritan had to offer some words of encouragement to the injured man as he poured oil and bandaged up his wounds? “Hey man, you’re going to be okay. I’ve got you brother,” is what I imagine him saying. We aren’t sure how long this donkey ride was but imagine picking up an injured (probably dirty and bloodied) dude on the road and putting him in the front seat of your car and driving to a nearby hotel. Then you leave your credit card on file at the hotel!

The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,* telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here. Luke 10:35

Now that’s love! Jesus ends this parable with a contagious call to show mercy and love our neighbor. He paints a beautiful picture of compassion, encouragement and love despite inconvenience. 

My mother-in-law, Cindy, captured an excellent video of our oldest son, Knox, smashing a hit to left field in one of our recent games. The video is special because Knox loves baseball and I’m proud to see that basehit. However, at the end of the video the camera pans to the right as he runs down the first base line. His little brother, Eli, was sitting by himself on the front row clapping and cheering for Knox. I’d have to say this part of the video is just as special as that base hit. Although Eli is too young to play, he has been an honorary teammate listening, watching and even sometimes participating in everything we do at practice. This proves that being a good teammate is highly contagious. Do you want to see positive change in your family, work place, community, or church? Start by doing what Jesus has called us to do. Pick up others when they fall. Encourage and cheer them on. Don’t beat them up! Show mercy and love even when it’s inconvenient. Be a Good Samaritan; be a good teammate!

Just fishing with my daddy, 

Ryan

Luke 10:25-37 NIV

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:25-37