Remember the year the voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player was so close? It was the 1988–89 season, and Magic Johnson won the award by just a few votes over Michael Jordan.
How did the leading scorer that year not win the MVP trophy? The answer is this: the MVP award is not solely for a player’s outstanding individual play. Basketball is a team sport. The MVP must be a player who not only can score points but also can inspire his or her teammates to excel in their abilities on the court. In that particular season, Magic met that criterion more than Michael.
If you think about it, this happens within the realm of Christianity. The church is one body, one team. Oh sure, there are some names of people in a church that we recognize more than others. But each of us as members must be a good teammate—a most valuable parishioner, so to speak. Eight qualities will help you achieve award-winning status with the one person whose vote really counts.
• Initiative – be a self-starter with contagious energy
• Vision – see beyond the obvious, look for new objectives
• Unselfishness – let go of the control and quest for glory
• Teamwork – involve and inspire others
• Faithfulness – don’t give up, season after season
• Enthusiasm – bring excitement to what you do
• Discipline – maintain good character regardless of the odds
• Confidence – security, faith, and determination
The challenge we face in being an MVP begins with the qualities we choose. And let’s hope it’s a close vote among all the people in the church.