Read again today our passage for this week: Ephesians 5: 15 - 6:9
Today I want to share with you a story from the "Holman New Testament Commentary on Ephesians" by Max Anders. As you read this story, let your mind place it in your home and in your church fellowship. It applies to both.
The Story:
Long, long ago in a kingdom far away lived a man who wanted to be a football coach. He heard of a coaching position open at a college where they had recruited many of the finest football players in the land. He applied and was hired as their football coach. The day of the first game, he said: "OK, boys. I want you all to feel a part of this team. I know that a lot of you have a lot of good ideas, so when we go out on that field, I want each of you to do what he thinks is best. As for me, I will be in my office doing what I enjoy best - reading sports magazines, watching football games, and talking to other coaches."
So the team clapped their hands in unison and stormed out onto the field. The coach zipped back into his office. The team lost that day. The quarterback called a play in the huddle, but the running back didn't like it. He wanted to run a play which they had used with great success in high school, so they argued a little bit. In the end when the ball was snapped, the running back ran the play he wanted; and the quarterback ran the play he wanted. The receivers each ran the plays they wanted, and they ended up running into each other and knocking each other down.
After three downs, the punter came out to kick but had to kick into the wind. He knew it wouldn't go very far that way, and that would be embarrassing to him, so he turned around and kicked the other direction. The ball went way up into the stands. It was a long, long kick, and the punter was very happy with himself. However, they were penalized for kicking the ball the wrong direction.
The linemen felt that the other team was hitting too hard, so they decided to leave the field. If they wanted to play that rough, they could just play with someone else. Many other things happened that day which caused the team to lose badly. It seemed such a shame, because actually the players on the losing team were better than the other team
The athletic director went into the coach's office the next day and said: "Listen, we can't play football this way. The whole purpose for hiring you was so you would be responsible to see that the team played as a team - each player making his maximum contribution.
So the next Saturday, the coach drew up a game plan and explained it to each of the players. He stayed on the sidelines and paid close attention to each play. If something was going wrong, he explained it to the players, instructed them as to what they should do, and corrected the situation.
Several times he didn't know what was wrong. He asked several of the players if they understood what was going wrong. The did. When they explained it, the coach asked them if they had suggestions. The team followed up on the suggestions in the next play and scored.
The moral:
Teamwork (which I, Gail, would call mutual submission) is essential any time more than one person is needed to succeed at something. In our day we are experiencing a crisis of authority, and it is easy to understand why. Sometimes, those in authority over us have mistreated us, and we have difficulty accepting authority any more. We have had presidents who have lied to us. They have been dishonest, unethical, and immoral. Head of companies have defrauded the company and investors out of billions of dollars. Military officials have abused power. Politicians have abused power. Nationally recognized religious leaders have abused power. Educators have abused power. Doctors have abused power. Journalists have abused power. Ministers have abused power. We are living in an age of abuse of power, and understandably, this has caused a crisis of authority.
This abuse of power has filtered down to the fundamental building block of society - the home. Just as society faces a crisis of authority, so does the home. We have men who won't lead, women who won't follow, children who won't obey, and parents who won't nurture. It is every man for himself. The ship is going down, so every person is out to save his own neck.
Against the backdrop of this ominous social upheaval, the Bible still speaks; and it still speaks truth. It still speaks words which, if followed, will bring order and truth and harmony to life. If being a Christian was every going to make a difference, it needs to make a difference now - in the home. We must not allow the attitude and experience of society to keep us from living biblically. We must each understand our biblical role and fulfill it.
And so we pray ... Heavenly Father, may we come to hate sin because of what it does to us and what it does to you. May we turn from it more and more completely. May we be filled with wisdom and with Your Holy Spirit, and may our marriages be a reflection of Your work in our lives. And may You be glorified in them ...
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