Anniversaries in sports often elicit tearful reminiscing as fans recapture a glimmer of the joy they once had from an inspiring sporting event.
Today marks eight years since the Dallas Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki and his mighty squad of role players, defeated the highly favored Miami Heat, whose trio of superstars (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh) had guaranteed a handful of championships prior to the season.
The essence of team basketball came to a culmination that day in 2011. It was Game 6 of the NBA Finals, and the Mavericks were one win away from being declared World Champs.
Dallas had already survived the gauntlet of the Western Conference, defeating Brandon Roy’s Trail Blazers, Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, and the Thunder who were led by the partnership of three future MVP’s in James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant. Now, it came down to one final victory.
Dirk had already proven to be an MVP candidate of the series, finishing with an average of 26 points per game, but a leader is only as great as those he is leading.
In the biggest game in Mavs history, Dirk went to the locker room at halftime having made only one of his first 12 shots and scoring three points. Frustration had peaked and pressure would have broken any barometer.
But Dallas was prepared for such a moment. Their role players continued to do their job – rising to the occasion when their leader was struggling.
To name a few, J.J. Barea finished the game with 15 points and five assists. DeShawn Stevenson drilled three triples. Jason Kidd displayed leadership and solid basketball with nine points and eight assists. Brian Cardinal played 12 big minutes with a +18 plus/minus. And most importantly, Jason Terry kept the ship afloat with his 27 points.
Dirk’s first-half struggles were alleviated by the epitome of team basketball. His teammates carrying the burden of an ice-cold first half allowed Dirk to escape his funk and score 18 second-half points.
His last bucket was a left-handed layup with 29 seconds left followed by an emotional jog down the court knowing he was soon to be crowned a champion.
I say all of this not to harp on super teams or even to relive the glory of that special moment eight years ago, but to paint a similar picture in our faith as we follow Jesus.
Paul speaks of followers of Jesus adopting a role player mentality in his letter to the church in Corinth: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12; NIV).
Notice how Paul describes different roles forming a beautiful unity in Christ. Paul advocates for unity, not uniformity. He encourages Christ-followers to use their unique gifts in their role in the body of Christ – no matter how big or small the role may appear.
Paul then takes this idea a step further in his letter to the church in Galatia when he encourages followers of Jesus to carry the burdens of fellow followers of Jesus:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2; NIV).
Playing your role in the body of Christ includes using your gifts to bless people that are both inside and outside the body. When a brother or sister in Christ has a burden, help lift it. Assist in alleviating the frustration and pressure felt. Play your role!
I’m Luke Heaton and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for uniquely blessing me. Thank you for giving me unique gifts and for graciously giving me a role in the body of Christ. Help me to not envy the gifts or roles of others, but to be faithful in my role. Help me actively carry the burdens of others and thank you for carrying my ultimate burden, which is my sin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
