Be Willing to Take One for the Team

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

In a story published by the BBC on August 13, it was reported that 31-year-old Rose Harvey, a Team GB marathon runner completed the 26.2 mile race at the Paris Olympics in under three hours despite developing a stress fracture in her femur near the beginning of the event. Rose, from Evesham, Worcestershire, told the BBC she refused to give up after training hard and coming into the Games in the best form of her life. Harvey battled through the "agony" to finish 78th in a time of 2:51:03 in 24C heat. The British athlete said it became clear to her from about two miles into Sunday morning's race that her hip - which had begun feeling tight three weeks previously - was going to be "really, pretty painful.” "It was really tough," Harvey told the BBC. “The hills didn't help at all, the downhills were just agony and it just got worse and worse. At the halfway mark I knew it was going to be incredibly painful." Harvey went on to explain that she made the decision to step up to the start line (despite being encouraged not to because of the risk of further injuring herself) because there was no Team GB reserve runner available to fill her space. Talk about taking one for the team!

And you know, when it comes to being willing to take one for the team despite the negative consequences you and I might encounter, the Bible tells us that we are to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit” but are to, in humility, value others above ourselves, not looking to our own interests but each of us to the interests of the others. Which means that you and I must love others so much that we are willing to do things that might not be especially good for us but work for the common good of our brothers and sisters in Christ and the church as a whole. You can be sure that this might be a sacrifice on our part, but it’s one that will reap eternal rewards. This was the precedent Jesus set when He humbled Himself and died for the sins of all people despite the agony he had to endure. 

So be willing to follow the example of Jesus my friend, no matter what the cost—remembering that our bodies are not our own and pain is only temporary. We were bought at a price and should, therefore, honor God with both our words and our deeds, knowing that the eternal prize we gain will be worth any “agony” we must endure to do so. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us that we were made to serve You by serving others. Help us to value others more than ourselves so that we would remain humble and work for Kingdom treasures rather than earthly ones. It’s in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!