Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
We are coming up on another running of the Kentucky Derby in beautiful Louisville, Kentucky. The race has been referred to as the most exciting two minutes in sports even though it literally only takes two minutes from beginning to end! Twenty thoroughbred horses line up in the starting gate, the words, and they’re off are spoken, and the race is on!
Even though the race is over in the blink of an eye, the preparation of horses, trainers, jockeys, and owners is a process which is carefully and meticulously orchestrated. On the first Saturday in May, all this preparation leads up to Crunch Time for all involved.
Crunch time is defined as a critical moment or period (usually at the end of a game) when decisive action is needed. These two minutes are crunch time. In this world of today every day is bringing all of us closer to crunch time where we have to take decisive action or suffer the consequences.
I’ve heard it said that there’s no reason to watch a full game of basketball because the game really boils down to the last two minutes where players and coaches enter crunch time especially when a game is close. The players are more physical and the coaches view every possession as critical.
Duke and their long time coach lost their bid for the NCAA championship to UNC in crunch time a few weeks ago. Not only was it his last game of the season, but it was also the last game of Coach K’s career. After the game when reporters could only dwell on how he felt about losing the last game of his career, Coach K said, “This is about these guys and how they feel. I will think about me later.”
His statement brought the scripture Honor one another above yourselves to mind as I contemplated the unselfish attitude portrayed by Coach K’s words. He put his players ahead of any sadness or disappointment that he was feeling. Jesus always preached doing for others and put them above His own needs.
At some point in the crunch time of life, we realize that it’s not just what we do in life, but rather what we do for others. The most miserable people on earth are those who hate, hinder, and hurt others, while the happiest are the ones who spend their lives helping others. Putting others above ourselves is what Jesus would want in each of us. It’s simple really, the degree to which we’re helpful to others is the degree to which we are happy!
The poet John Albert Holmes said, “It’s well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is made up of others.” All things in this life are based on relationships with one another, and if we don’t acknowledge that truth, we will miss out on the life that God has promised us.
The story is told of a successful man who was driving his car through a poor neighborhood when a young boy tried to flag him down. Not wanting to get involved, the man passed by the boy. The gentleman was stopped at a red light when a brick came crashing through his car window. The man jumped out to find the same boy he had passed by earlier had thrown the brick. The man was enraged and yelled at him, “You will go to jail for this!!” At that, the young boy cried, “I’m sorry, mister, but my Mom is on the floor of our apartment, and I think she’s dying. Our phone has been cut off, and I’ve been out here for ten minutes looking for help! I need a doctor.” The man now full of shame said, “I’m a doctor. Take me to her.” The woman lived, but it’s a sad world when we have to throw a brick to get someone’s attention when we need help.
How many times do we pass someone in need because it is inconvenient? Maybe we are guilty of not listening to the needs of others? Maybe we minimize the accomplishments of others to make ourselves look better? No matter what the situation, when we live for others relationships are made, people are encouraged, and needs are met as we humble ourselves. We need to resolve to be in crunch time every day so we don’t miss our opportunities.
Coach K ended his interview by explaining that in these basketball games, one team is either crying for joy or crying for sorrow. Whether it’s joy or sorrow, it’s a good thing because then you know they’ve given their all.
Michael W. Smith says it best in his song, I Will Carry You. We were never meant to walk this road alone; We are bound together when we say; I will carry you, Be your strength and pull you through. Reach for me and take my hand. We will pray and we will stand.