There is no 'I' in team. But there is an 'I' in win. And if you rearrange the letters in the word team you could spell me. Yeah, we could go round and round like this. Did you realize there is meat in team. Does that do anyone any good? I doubt it.
I think our spelling gymnastics are beside the point. The fact is that we can make everything about us, which is the exact opposite of what a team should be.
I believe there are two important things to remember when it comes to teamwork.
What did following Elijah cost to Elisha? He said good-bye to his parents. He destroyed his farming equipment. In fact, he slaughtered the 12 pair of oxen. That he had 12 pair of oxen shows he came from a wealthy family.
Teamwork has a prize.
Elisha was committed to the team and to the cause. For that he received a double portion of the spirit when Elijah left.
I think our spelling gymnastics are beside the point. The fact is that we can make everything about us, which is the exact opposite of what a team should be.
I believe there are two important things to remember when it comes to teamwork.
Teamwork has a price.
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. ~1 Kings 19:19-21
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. ~1 Kings 19:19-21
What did following Elijah cost to Elisha? He said good-bye to his parents. He destroyed his farming equipment. In fact, he slaughtered the 12 pair of oxen. That he had 12 pair of oxen shows he came from a wealthy family.
But Elisha destroyed it all. It was signifying that he would not be returning to the family business. I do not believe that most of us would have done that. We might decide to do something, but we would simply store everything, in case we wanted to come back to it.
Are we willing to pay the price?
Teamwork has a prize.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”~2 Kings 2:9-10
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”~2 Kings 2:9-10
Here we have what is a somewhat sad story of the last time Elijah and Elisha were together on Earth. Elijah is called by God to go to Bethel, but it would appear as if everybody knew Elijah was about to be taken away by God. So Elisha decides he will not leave Elijah’s side.
Elijah asks what he can do and Elisha does a bold thing. He asks for a double portion of the spirit in Elijah. And that is exactly what happens. Elisha watches as Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind to Heaven. And the Bible records twice as many miracles performed by Elisha as performed by Elijah.
Elisha was committed to the team and to the cause. For that he received a double portion of the spirit when Elijah left.
Are we ready for the prize? When is the last time you sacrificed for the greater good of a team and saw it pay off with a prize?
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