Most Valuable Player

Did any of you watch Super Bowl XLIV (44) last weekend? I did, but mainly to enjoy the much anticipated commercials. However, I ended up glued to the television as the clash of the 2009-2010 NFL season titans, the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Colts, took to the battle field in a Florida stadium.

 Although the game was not much of a nail-biter, it was a great contest between two formidable teams who earned their way into the biggest game of the year.

Most Valuable Player

Drew Brees performed an excellent game and walked away with much-deserved Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors and was very gracious about his accomplishment. He finished with some impressive statistics:

• Tied the Super Bowl record of 32 pass completions
• Racked up 288 total passing yards
• Threw 2 touchdown passes

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. (Matthew 5:12 NRSV)

This is a proper attitude for a MVP; someone who can rejoice for the right reasons. However, is there ever a time when seeking out or receiving this type of honor could be a bad thing? I think that answer is yes and depends on motives and attitudes.

Beware of practicing your piety before others to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so they may be seen by others. (Matthew 6:5)

If we do things in order to be noticed or elevate ourselves, that isn’t a good thing and our motives need to be adjusted.

We are a Team

Even with the great stats that Brees posted to receive the MVP distinction, the New Orleans Saints' 31-17 victory over the Baltimore Colts was a team effort. For example, Tracy Porter contributed a touchdown by blazing into the end zone after he intercepted a Colts pass.

Garrett Hartley kicked three field goals that kept the Saints in the game during the first half. And, what about that gutsy call by head coach Sean Payton that started the second half with a very unexpected onside kick? It succeeded because of the flawless execution that kicker Thomas Morstead delivered.

Sure, there a deserving MVP emerged during the game, but what a team effort the Saints showed on Super Bowl Sunday and throughout the 2009-2010 NFL season.

Just like the New Orleans Saints, we are New Testament Saints! I love the story of the first "team" church forming on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection.

All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any needed. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved. (Acts 2:43-47)

There are so many guidelines to building a team in the above words:

• All believed – believing in the name of Jesus and His forgiveness of sin gave everyone a common denominator as it should for us today! Christians make a great team.
• They sold their possessions – this first church team provided unselfishly for others in need. As members of God’s team, we, too, need to give unselfishly.
• They spent time together – practice is invaluable and fellowship is a way for the team members to know and understand each others. We need to make an effort to know and understand and spend time with other saints, as well.
• They praised God – God deserves our praise and when we praise Him, it takes the focus off of us.
• They shared goodwill – these people experienced deep relationships with each other. Goodwill to each other and to others outside God’s kingdom is extremely important. We need to be a team reflecting the love and goodwill of Jesus to an unbelieving world.
• Their numbers grew – they were a light in a time of darkness. They were busy doing work for God and, as a result, their numbers continued to grow. We need to be a team that grows our number.

We are all in this together and, if like the New Orleans Saints, we can work together as a team, we can all be MVPs in God’s eyes and we can score points for the Kingdom.

Practical Christianity strives to shine and be God’s MVP. Practical Christianity also recognizes and utilizes the concept of teams and teamwork! So, do your best to be God's MVP and to do your part on His team.

(c)2010 Shona Neff