Ball Hog

I coach a 3rd/4th grade basketball team, and one thing I notice is that no one - NO ONE - wants to pass the ball. It's not their fault really, because when you start playing b-ball, you're told to keep dribbling, keep shooting on your own. The ball is always in your hands when you practice. So when game time comes, you're still in that mentality. You want the ball in your hands. It takes practice and discipline to learn how to be a good passer. Passing the ball does not come naturally to kids. Anyone else who has it is a 'ball hog.'

One of the true marks of spiritual maturity is when you come to a place where you quit acting like everything has to be done to your satisfaction and at your pace. The ball doesn't always need to be in your hands.

Our churches are full of immature Christians who think 'church' has to revolve around them - and that anyone else is a 'ball hog.' We need to get to a place where we set our needs and agendas aside for the greater good of the church. It's not about getting people on 'our side' - it's about getting people into the Kingdom.

When someone is saved, he isn’t saved to be a part of your church. He is saved to be a part of the Church. It would serve us all well to remember that. We need to have the church competition removed from evangelism – the desire to make them “one of us.” To go to our church. To look like us. To sing like us. To think theologically like us. To be on our side. Honestly - it's like watching 3rd graders play basketball, with everyone screaming constantly: "I'm open! Pass me the ball!"