“You’re either in the game, on the bench, or in the stands.”
Interesting word picture I thought.
I was attending Advanced Leadership Training and the speaker was giving us information to help us see how serious we were about doing what it takes to be a leader. She went on to describe several scenarios stating “if you do this you’re in the game, if you do this you’re on the bench, if you do this you’re in the stands.”
Her point was if you’re in the game you’re consistently, actively involved. If you’re on the bench you’re ready to get involved and occasionally do so but not consistently. If you’re in the stands you’re letting others do the work and you’re just observing.
As I thought about her analogy I realized how fitting that was to areas of my spiritual life and came up with a few scenarios of my own.
Prayer – Colossians 1:9, 10 “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
If I’m in the game I pray regularly and my prayers are most always for others. If I’m on the bench I pray some but my prayers are for God to do something good for myself or my family. If I’m in the stands I rarely pray and when I do it’s often rote or only when I want something.
Quiet Time – II Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
If I’m in the game I read and study God’s Word regularly, gleaning from it gems of truth, encouragement and exhortation for my daily life. If I’m on the bench I have a Quiet Time occasionally but often out of a sense of duty or a desire to get help with a problem. If I’m in the stands I hardly ever have Quiet Time but I could probably find my Bible if I really had to.
Witnessing – Ephesians 6:19 “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”
If I’m in the game I am actively seeking to create opportunities to share the gospel with those I come in contact with throughout my day. If I’m on the bench I might be willing to share if the right situation came up where they asked me specifically to tell them about the Lord. If I’m in the stands I’ve decided I don’t want to be pushy so I’ll just live my testimony and not really say anything.
Ministry – I Corinthians 12:4-7, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
If I’m in the game I am eagerly involved in regularly ministering to others even if it’s uncomfortable or I know it’s not my area of strength. If I’m on the bench I do what I can when I can especially when it’s convenient. If I’m in the stands I figure someone else can do it better than me so I let them.
(continued in part 2)
