The Definition of Greatness

Martha and I have a May-June tradition.

We watch the NBA playoffs on television and do our best to see every game. We never quite reach our goal, of course, because of scheduling.

Beginning this week with the conference finals, we hope to see every game from this point on.

As we watched the San Antonio Spurs-Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, our favorite team for this year (the San Antonio Spurs) got off to a slow start. The Mavericks took them to game seven. The National Basketball Association loves game sevens. As they publicize, “it’s win or go home.”

We watched in fascination as the Spurs built a big lead in game seven and won going away. Their big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker each played a lights out kind of game.

Late in the game Jeff Van Gundy, the game’s color commentator and former NBA coach, talked about what makes a player great. He defined greatness in the following way: Being great is when “you play your best when you best is needed.”

He noted that San Antonio’s big three played their best when their best was called for.

At that point, I paused my DVR and wrote down what Van Gundy said.

Isn’t that the definition for the church? Isn’t that what God intended for you and me? God is ready for the church and individual believers to do their best in this time when our best is needed.

I don’t have to tell you that we live at a time in history when the church needs to “play its best.”

In a world of darkness, we need to let our light shine. In a bland world, we need to be the salt of the earth.

Our world needs the followers of Christ to play their very best.

May God bless us and may we give our very best for Him.

Please subscribe at the top of the page to receive my daily look at life and Scripture in your inbox every morning. It’s easy to subscribe and completely free. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *