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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Playing on the "B" Team
They say the hardest instrument to play in the orchestra is “second fiddle.” No one wants to be second best. Who wants to play on the “B” team when all the publicity goes to the guys or gals on the “A” team. And we do want all the glory, don’t we? After all, they don’t put second best folk on the cover of magazines.
Of course, it is good for all of us to do our best at every endeavor. The Bible discusses that subject in Ecclesiastes 9:10:“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.”
Laziness and careless behavior have no place in a Christian’s life. You are familiar with the old saying, “If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” In the days of youth, some want to “just sit back and enjoy life.” Their rationale is often found in the “you’re only young once” philosophy. But that’s no excuse for failing to use the days of youth in true service to the God who created “youth.”
Yes, do it “with your might,” or, with all your “ability, power, strength.” In living for the Lord, if you are going to do something, do it right; do it wholeheartedly. That is what we read in Colossians 3:22: “…not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.”
But what if your best is not as good as the next fellow’s. What if you are not as fast, or as strong? What if you do not have the most beautiful singing voice? Or the ability to put words together and speak before others? What if you have to “play second fiddle” to your fellow students? It is at that point that you will make one of the most important decisions of your life. This is when you must determine you will use each talent and every skill, regardless of how limited, to the greatest extent possible. This is where you must decide it is better to play “second fiddle” than sit around and mope over a lack of “glory.”
You remember John the Baptist. He lived in Jesus’ day, and wasn’t too proud to play second fiddle. We read about him in Matthew 3:2. It says that John came preaching,
“Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Multitudes came to hear him preach, but he always pointed to Jesus, saying that Jesus was the one to whom people should give heed. Some wanted to say that John was the anticipated deliverer of the Jews. But John knew he was there to “prepare the way” for that deliverer, Jesus of Nazareth.
Jewish leaders—priests and Levites—asked John, “Who are you?” He did not shrink from playing “second fiddle,” but replied, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah,” John 1:23.
They wanted to know if John was “that prophet” or Elijah. John, willing to remain in the background, told them he was merely the ‘best man’ while Jesus was the bridegroom. He concluded by declaring, “He must increase, but I must decrease,” John 3:30. John was pleased merely to play on the team; the glory belonged to Jesus. As such, he was the quintessential “team player.”
Every “team” needs that kind of “player,” for individualism tends to lift one member above others. When that happens, it usually results in competition between players from the same team, which is a distraction from the goals they need to achieve.
How much glory does it take for you to be satisfied? Must people fawn over you and constantly compliment you for you to be happy? Or, are you willing to be a servant in the house of the Lord?
Some of Jesus’ disciples had a problem in this area. They sought places of honor in Jesus’ kingdom. They quarreled about it among themselves. Jesus admonished them, saying: “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant,” Matthew 23:11.
Are you willing to forsake the glory, forget the applause and be a true servant of Jesus Christ? That is exactly what it will take. Sometimes we call that humility. It’s also called “playing second fiddle,” or playing on the “B” team. Which ever, such is needed in the kingdom.
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“The smaller the mind the greater the conceit.”
“Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.”
“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but for the interests of others,”
“Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself, your strengths and your limitations, in contrast to depending on affirmation from others.”
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Counsel from a Twelve Year-Old Boy
(Note: This article is written by Bill Burk, who will be conducting our gospel meeting beginning next Sunday.)
In July of 1979, I turned 12 years of age. My list of interests included Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboys, summer baseball, Hardy Boys books and girls my age. If one would have approached me regarding spiritual matters, I would have had very little to offer in the way of information, advice or counsel. At the tender age of twelve, I knew very little about God or His word, therefore, if someone had come to me for a greater understanding of life’s most important concepts, I would have been very little help.
The same thing could not be said, however, in regard to Jesus. Even at the age of 12, our Lord had a profound grasp of that which was most important. When quizzed by His parents as to why He remained behind in Jerusalem, the Lord said to them, “Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). In His questioning of His parents, Jesus set forth some immensely deep concepts. Consider:
Jesus proclaimed the need for introspection. “Why is it that you have sought Me?” Jesus forced Mary and Joseph to consider why they had searched for Him. True, their reasoning would have been different from ours, yet all of us ought to examine ourselves and ask, “Why have I sought Jesus?” Some seek the liberty or freedom from sin Jesus provides, yet they do not seek to make Him Lord (Acts 2:36; 1 Timothy 6:15). In other words, there are some that seek a relationship with God without requirements. However, it must be remembered that there is no loosing from sins unless Jesus is made Lord. Why do you seek Him? Perhaps it is time for introspection.
Jesus proclaimed the need for illumination. “Did you not know?” Jesus implied that Mary and Joseph should have understood, at least to some degree, His mission. Jesus’ mission is our mission (Luke 19:10; Matthew 16:15). Men everywhere are in need of understanding. All need to understand that the purpose of man is to glorify God through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:16-17). In regard to the meaning of life, no one should want to hear from Jesus on the Judgment Day, “Did you not know?” How much we are in need of godly illumination, that we might understand why we are here and so that we might carry out that task!
Jesus proclaimed the need for action. “I must be about my Father’s business.” Jesus was concerned only with doing the Father’s will (John 5:30; 6:38). Some are in the pleasure business, some in the money-making business, some in the power business, but Christians should be about the Father’s business. The Father’s business demands action (1 Corinthians 15:58). How active are you?
At the age of 12, I would have had very little to offer someone in regard to godly, spiritual counsel. Yet, Jesus, the God-man (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9) had much to say even while He was a boy. In His words, we see the need for introspection (2 Corinthians 13:5), illumination (Psalm 119:130) and action (James 2:20). Let us heed His counsel, knowing that it leads to eternal life.
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