Are You "Coachable"?

Imagine you're a coach having to choose between these two players to add to your squad:

Player A has exceptional, superstar talent, but won't let anyone tell him what to do. He'll follow his own inclinations instead of your instruction, and thinks his phenomenal talent precludes him from having to work as hard as his less-talented teammates.

Player B is not as talented, but knows that because of this he has to work harder. He'll listen to your direction, allow you to mold him into the team, and will do whatever it takes to contribute.

I'll choose Player B hands down--and Player A has no one to blame but himself.

Attitude is such an equalizer in sports; a less talented athlete with the right work ethic can outshine a more gifted but selfish player.

And so it is in the team game of Christian discipleship. God does not distribute talents equally, but he does give everyone some kind of ability to contribute. It doesn't matter what particular talent we are given or how much of it we possess--what matters is the attitude we bring to placing that talent at the service of God and his people.

We can be blessed with phenomenal talent; but if we refuse guidance, follow our own inclinations instead of God's will, and think that we don't have to work as hard as others, we run the risk of being cut from the squad. And if that were to happen we would have no one to blame but ourselves.

But if we recognize that we have to work hard with any talent we're given (no matter the quantity), listen to God's direction, allow him to mold us into his team, and have a willingness to do whatever it takes to contribute, we can be sure of our place on the roster. (And the entire team will strengthened by our presence.)

The buzzword to describe Player B--and even Player A if he has the right attitude--is "coachable." All the talent in the world means nothing if a player is not willing to be taught by the coach and molded not just into a player, but a teammate.

In the Body of Christ, just as in sports, the most coachable players often turn out to be the most unlikely heroes.

"People will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last." (Luke 13:29-30)