7 Habits of Highly Effective BelieversSample

Habit #6 is learning to work together.

In the film Remember the Titans, T.C Williams high school in Alexandria, Virginia, faced off with the integration of black and white students. In 1971, football was a way of life in Alexandria, Virginia. It was everything. Most of the town and students believed integration would destroy it. Fortunately, a few believed they could unify to win a championship. The town and football team battled all year. Friendships were tested. Emotions ran high, but in the end, the school and football team prevailed.

Psalms 133:1 says it like this, 'How delightfully good when brothers live together in harmony! '

As the film gets going, you begin to see the integration of the players. You see the smiles on their faces and the joy they share. They dance. They laugh. They begin to live in harmony.

I can’t tell you how much I love watching this—the beauty of kids from all walks of life having fun together. It not only warms my soul, but I believe it’s at the heart of God because God is love. I weep. I absolutely love it.

The other day we got into Philippians 2:3-4, and I want to bring it back into this story. It reads like this,

'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

Each and every one of these football players had to live out this verse. They had to consider one another. They had to drop feelings, ideals, and assumptions if they were going to work together successfully. In 1971, culture said integration was bad. However, the Bible gives a better way. It gives you the blueprint of how you should live and work with others.

Have a look at what 1 Peter 3:8 says, 'Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, '

Let’s pause for a moment and consider what you just read for your own life.

What are these verses speaking to you?

What needs to change in your life?

Who do you need to work with more?

Are you holding onto any grudges toward others?

What area in your life needs to be humbled?

Are you holding onto any unforgiveness?

What if the delight you crave is on the other side of repentance?

This idea of working together is so important and so powerful the Apostle Paul writes about it to the Corinthian church.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:10,

'Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction. '

Paul was aware of the impact the Corinthian church was making and its potential. This verse basically is saying the only thing that can beat you is you. If you can’t work together, this whole thing will fall apart.

The same is true for you. As a highly effective believers, you have to work together. You will need to be humble. You will need to love others as you love yourself. You will need to get along. You will need to forgive. You will need to do the hard things. You will need to control your emotions. You will need to take a page out of 1 Corinthians 10:5 and take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

If you want to become an effective believer, you must learn to work together.

Let me know what resonates with you the most.

Rooting for you.
Coach Anthony Thompson