So a few days ago I’m reading Philippians chapter 2 with a group of guys. At the end of the chapter the author, Paul, starts telling the people of Philippi that he is going to return their friend Epaphroditus to them. Apparently he was sent to help Paul with his work, did a great job, got deathly ill, and was delayed in returning to his people. Paul encourages the people of Philippi to welcome Epaphroditus with great joy and also to “honor men like him” (2:29). They are told to honor men and women who serve well and who serve anonymously. In our round table discussion, we talked about how cool it is for a guy like Epaphroditus to be mentioned in the Bible forever, mostly because Paul appreciated his contribution and made sure it was also appreciated by others.
When I was coaching in Florida, our head coach was very intentional at making sure that the people who served behind the scenes were made to feel important. Custodians and lunch ladies got shirts and hats, parents who prepared meals for the team were recognized and thanked publicly, and the list goes on. Bottom line is we were able to enjoy a culture in which everybody’s contribution was valued. Even though some of our members were more visible, at the end of the day, we were required to remember that everyone’s role contributes to the big picture. If we read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 this is picture we see. One body-many parts.
Yesterday, a Coach shared with me that one of his first goals for his athletes when he took a job at a new school was to have every player thank the person who served him lunch each day. Why? Because a seemingly insignificant thing like a daily lunch-time thank you can begin to create a culture of others-centeredness…the kind that over time builds selfless players. (By the way, selfless players are much more likely to win games and championships. But that’s another story.)
Are we willing to serve? Do we honor others who do? What are we doing to create and facilitate a culture of selfless service? And for the record, if you are a Coach, I greatly value what you do. You are one of the most important people on the planet. Thank you.