The NBA Finals tipped off on Thursday evening, with the Boston Celtics cruising their way to a 107-89 victory over the Dallas Mavericks and taking a 1-0 series lead. Perhaps the biggest storyline from Boston’s win was the Celtics’ clampdown defense, holding a dynamic Dallas offense to a playoff-low 89 points. Because of Boston’s defensive skill and versatility, the Celtics were able to avoid having to send routine double-teams when the ball was in the hands of playmakers, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Celtics coach, Joe Mazzulla said of his team’s performance, “Just great individual defense. Everybody has to take on the challenge of guarding those guys. They're an amazing team and they put a ton of pressure on you with their ability to score. Everyone is going to take their matchup personal, have personal pride in individual defense.” Anybody who watches basketball regularly knows how one player’s poor individual defense can have a damaging effect on the entire team. If a defender requires the help of a teammate to attempt to slow down an opposing player, it creates an increased burden on his three remaining teammates to try to guard four offensive players. Teams that function at a high level on defense have individual players who excel at their responsibilities and infrequently need help from their teammates to guard an opponent player. As followers of Jesus, we’re blessed to have “teammates” who help us when we struggle with our responsibilities. At the same time, however, we should never use the “help defense” God gives us as an excuse to shirk our individual responsibilities. Galatians 6:4-5 (ESV) says, “But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.” We know the Apostle Paul isn’t saying in these verses that there’s never a time to help out a fellow believer. Just a few verses earlier in Galatians, he called all believers to assist their fellow brothers and sisters when they’re struggling. (See Galatians 6:2.) Instead, his focus in these verses is that individuals should take their responsibilities seriously. Similarly to a defense in a basketball game, when one member of the body of Christ fails in his or her individual responsibility, it causes a chain reaction that impacts the rest of the “team.” Though we’ll never be able to altogether avoid situations where we need the help of one of our “teammates,” we don’t want to be lazy or careless in approaching our responsibilities, as doing so will cause us to be an unnecessary burden to others. Paul further fleshed out this idea in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 (NIV) when he said, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.” Today, by recognizing that what we do or don’t do impacts others, let’s take personal responsibility for working diligently at the tasks God has given us and not unnecessarily becoming a burden. I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for surrounding me with fellow believers who can help me in times of trouble. Please help me faithfully work hard at the tasks You’ve given me so I’m not a burden to my brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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