are great with tech. I see how all of them bring something to the table, and I value them simply because they are men that are serving God. They have worth because of who they are, not because of what they do. In the world of sports, it is good to strive to excel. It is good to shoot to win. There can be healthy competition. These things are not wrong. If they were, sports would be like watching grass grow (which is what watching golf is like to me!) The danger lies in how we derive our value and communicate value to people in that context. If you are a coach, never forget that your players are people with intrinsic value first. If you are a player, remember that your teammates and your competitors are people with intrinsic value first. Also, remember that your value is not purely based on your performance. This concept is not limited to sports. The world is also filled with teams, coaches, competition, and failure. This is true in all of life. Sports are just a microcosm of the larger realities of life. So, if you are a leader, never forget that your team consists of people with intrinsic value first. If you work with others (which we all do at some point), remember he knew that including me would build something in me. that they all have value. And remember that you have As guys, we often wish we were what we are not. We value that is not based on your performance. want to be better at something than we are. We want “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, to do what someone else can do. Our environment and then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:7, ESV) the voices around us can reinforce those shortcomings. The greatest gift you have received from God is not We end up focusing on our weaknesses instead of our your ability to play a sport, work a job, solve problems, strengths. We stop developing and or even raise a family. It is that through building our strengths because we faith in Jesus Christ, you are declared to THE GREATEST GIFT YOU HAVE are so focused on strengthening our be a son and an heir. This is where your RECEIVED FROM GOD IS NOT YOUR weaknesses. value comes from. ABILIT Y TO PL AY A SPORT, WORK You need to do both. Build on your My coach earned our respect because strengths. What you are good at, get he communicated value to us. He took A JOB, SOLVE PROBLEMS, OR better. Bolster your weaknesses. us all out for Big Mac’s after we lost that EVEN RAISE A FAMILY. IT IS THAT What you are not good at—improve. tournament. And we never forgot how THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, Let me qualify that statement. If that felt, to know he valued us no matter it is a necessary skill, get it strong what. YOU ARE DECL ARED TO BE A SON enough that it doesn’t sabotage your Whether you’re a husband, a father, AND AN HEIR. THIS IS WHERE YOUR strengths. Then keep on growing in a labour worker, an usher in church, VALUE COMES FROM. your strengths. I don’t waste my see yourself as a coach in life who sees time bolstering a weakness in an the value in people. Build them up. area that I do not need. (That’s why I don’t play golf!) Communicate value to them. Show them that God values them, even if they were picked last on the playground.
LEARNING TO SEE VALUE IN EVERYONE
FUNCTION & VALUE
First Corinthians 12:21 says, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’” (ESV) Our value is not based on our function. My function is not one of sport; it is one of teaching and communicating. I have guys in our church that are great with tools. Others
/ MARC BRULÉ is the Lead Pastor at WellSpring Community Church in Welland, ON and has served as National Worship Leader for Promise Keepers for 11 years. He's married to Wendy (34 years) and together have three children (Amy, Jonathan, Adam).
SPRING 2020 SEVEN 19
