Philippians 2:20-21
“For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”
Superstars don’t win championships, but teams do. Developing a team mentality is important to any organization being successful. With a likeminded team, you will find division and an unhealthy competition between team members will be absent. It is vitally important to develop a likeminded team if you are going to be successful in whatever you do.
If there is any organization that needs to become a likeminded team, the church needs to be that organization. The church deals with the souls of man, and a person’s soul will either go to Heaven or Hell. If the church does not have a likeminded team, it will be filled with strife and contention causing them not to reach as many souls for Christ as they could. When a church develops a likeminded team, it becomes a mighty army to reach their community for Jesus Christ. In the verses above, Paul shows us how to develop a likeminded team.
First, you have to take “me” out. Part of the problem that Paul was facing was that many were seeking “their own.” In other words, everyone was thinking about themselves. It was about them getting the accolades. It was about each individual getting the credit. Whenever you have the “me” mentality, you will find fighting and squabbling among people. If you want your church or organization to be successful, then you must take yourself out of the equation. Don’t have the “me” mentality that is always concerned with getting credit for everything.
Second, you must put “others” in. Paul’s predicament was that he didn’t have anyone who was out to meet the needs of others. Friend, when you are concerned about “me,” then you will not meet the needs of others. Always keep in mind that the ministry is about serving others. The only way you are going to reach your community for Jesus Christ is to make everything you do about others. It must not be about your feelings or desires, but what can you do to help others. With “me” out of the equation, you can clearly see other’s needs.
Third, you must make Christ your central focus. Paul showed that Christ was not their focus because they were seeking “their own.” Christ must be the reason we do everything. Everything you do should be to have Christ lifted up. You don’t do things because some man says to do it, but you do things because Christ says to do them. You must never fall into the trap of man worship, but you must keep Christ as the focal point of all that you do. When Christ is your focal point, then divisions and strife will cease.
There is truly no secret to developing a likeminded team. When everyone takes “me” out of the picture and points others to Jesus Christ, then great strides will be made in meeting the needs of others and reaching your community for Jesus Christ. Stay focused upon Christ, and a developing a likeminded team will be easily achieved.