From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
I am a big sports fan of all major sports, but there is an award that the NBA (National Basketball Association) gives out every year that really captures my attention.
It is called the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
This award is not given to a regular starting five athlete.
No, this award is aimed at the first guy who comes off the bench to come into a game.
Perhaps a starter gets into early foul trouble, or a fluke injury happens.
The coach then signals for the “sixth man”, one who was not one of the starting five, to replace the one coming off.
This man must be warmed up and ready to go at any time.
You won’t see a sixth man sitting on the bench, head down, scrolling on his phone.
No, this man is engaged in what’s happening and ready for action.
This person must also have a sense of humility knowing that he wasn’t chosen to be a starter but rather understands his role as an important one when the situation calls for it.
Are you willing to be someone who works from the shadows, from the sidelines, if it is for the better progress of the team?
Churches need lots of sixth men (and women!).
John the Baptist embodies this right spirit.
He knew that Jesus was the main event, not him, so look at what he said in John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Such an attitude takes incredible humility, but it produces wonderful results when it’s present.
Think about your role on a team, or a church position, or a committee at work.
Are you willing to be a sixth man if it will help achieve the desired results?
It could be the difference between success and failure.
