The Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference this year, but with so many new players on their roster, it’s going to take some time to adjust and get on the same page.

With the team filled with players who have been All-Stars and MVPs, Coach Lue is trying to find the right role for each guy.

In a somewhat surprising decision, 12X All-Star, 3X NBA Champion, and Finals MVP, Dwyane Wade, volunteered to move from the starting lineup to the bench.He will now backup J.R. Smith and play with the second unit.

Wade may not be the same player he once was, but he has an incredible resume and is still capable of having big scoring nights. However, this was a strong demonstration of his willingness to put the team in front of himself.

Being a starter carries more prestige than being a backup, and with the type of career Wade has had, this is a big deal. He was willing to sacrifice the benefits of being a starter in order to do what was best for his teammates.

It’s nice to see a big-time athlete put aside his ego, and let his humility shine through by serving his new team. As Wade gains the respect of his teammates, coaches, and fans, I think it’s worth considering how this scenario plays out in our own lives.

What would it look like if we showed a willingness to be a “backup” and let others shine? Are we capable of letting someone else take our place in the “starting lineup?” Are we eager to sacrifice the benefits and prominence in order to put others in front of ourselves?

These are tough questions to wrestle with, but as followers of Jesus, we’re called to be a servant and place the interests of others ahead of our own.

Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-4 (AMP), “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Along with being the backup and letting others “play first,” each of us has the opportunity to go to the bench so Jesus has the spotlight in our life. He’s the one who should be the starter as we place ourselves behind Him.

John the Baptist had a certain level of prestige, but he took a backseat to make sure Jesus was the one people looked to. This perspective led to the well-known verse in John 3:30 (AMP): “He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.”

Today, let’s volunteer to go to the bench and allow others to take our spot in the starting lineup. Let’s also remember that as we follow Jesus, we’re behind Him…willingly sacrificing our prominence for Him to receive the glory.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it’s not easy to put the interests of others ahead of my own. I pray that You would change my heart and give me the strength to show humility. I pray I would surrender each day to You, and give You authority over my life so that You increase and I decrease. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.