The Strongest and the Weakest

If I were to tell you that I am very impressed with the Texas Rangers Baseball team that would be an understatement. Yes, it is true that their 90 wins in the regular season was impressive for this young team. Yes, it is also true that their winning the Division Series against Tampa Bay was impressive. Yes it is exceptionally true that their winning the ACLS over the giant 210 million dollar New York Yankees was most impressive. The fact that this young team is going to the World Series is impressive in so many ways, but that is not what impresses me the most.

For me the most impressive thing about this young team is that they seem to understand the concept of team. It has been awhile in the arena of professional sports that you and I have been able to witness a bunch of highly paid athletes functioning as a team on every level. The players seem to have a very difficult time talking about themselves as individual players. For each player it is all about the team and how great the team is.

One of the most impressive and moving things they have done as a team has been their constant love and respect the team has shown toward their strongest and weakest player. Josh Hamilton is easily the strongest player on team and maybe the entire American League. He is also the weakest because of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. At the moment Josh has his addiction under control by the grace of God and the support of people who hold him accountable. The impressive part about his weakness is how the team supports him and gives him an amazing amount of love and support. During a time when most teams would be popping Champagne bottles this team first reaches for the Ginger Ale for their initial celebration. They do this out of love and respect for their weakest player the great Josh Hamilton.

That is really what each of us is called to do in our Christian walk. You and I are called to love, respect and support those around us who are the weakest among us. In a world that seems to revolve around “self” it is a challenge to remember to put others first and to seek out those who need special help and attention. Paul said it this way in his Philippian letter, “ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 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.”

So let each of us take a lesson from the Texas Rangers and live out the instructions from God to “consider others better than yourself”. Let us find ways to elevate those who are the weakest among us and treat them with love and support. The most important thing you can do each day is to make someone else feel important and special.

Love God. Go Love Others.