The Attribute That Leads to Winning

There's perhaps no team in the NBA that's currently easier to define than the Los Angeles Lakers.

At 34-24, which places them sixth in the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are not a difficult team to figure out in terms of what they do well and where they struggle.

Led by a trio of elite offensive playmakers in Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, Los Angeles leads all NBA teams in offensive field goal percentage (49.8%). As long as their "Big Three" is healthy, it's all but certain that the Lakers will have little problem seeing the ball go into the basket with great regularity.

However, for as easy as it is to see the Lakers' offensive firepower, it's just as easy to see their glaring weaknesses. 

On the defensive end of the court, Los Angeles ranks 26th in the league in opponents' field goal percentage (48.6%), 28th in rebounding (40.9 per game), and last in blocked shots (3.6 per contest).

Heading into the offseason, Los Angeles' front office knew the team could face problems without enough size to be a proficient defensive and rebounding team.

As such, the team elected to sign free agent center Deandre Ayton to a two-year contract, in hopes that he would embrace the role of being a defensive-minded nuisance who enthusiastically blocks shots, rebounds, and makes "rim runs" on the offensive end.

Thus far, however, it doesn't appear that Ayton has been particularly keen to embrace that role.

Following a recent loss to the Orlando Magic, Ayton was heard by reporters saying, "They're trying to make me Clint Capela. I'm not no Clint Capela!”

Even if you are unfamiliar with Clint Capela and the specific role he’s played for the Houston Rockets over the years, the point Ayton was making is clear: he is not happy about his role on the team.

Unfortunately, that lack of enthusiasm has been evident on the court, as Ayton has often looked disengaged and frustrated. 

Though it wouldn’t be fair to blame all the Lakers' issues on Ayton alone, it certainly seems fair to say that his failure to humble himself and embrace the role the team desires of him has not helped the team win as a whole.

As followers of Jesus, there are few character traits more important for us to embrace than humility. 

The simple point of the matter is that, as Christians, God calls us to consider the needs of those around us more than we are concerned with our desires or preferences.

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV) says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Take a moment to think about what that passage would look like if we practically lived it out. If everyone in your church lived with a humble mindset that prioritized serving others first, what would the outcome be?

Though our flesh will often wage war with us and pull us towards selfishness, when we do choose to humble ourselves and count others as more important, everybody wins.

Naturally, the opposite is true as well. When we choose to give in to our selfishness, pursuing personal ambition instead of humbly considering others more than ourselves, everybody loses.

James 3:16 (NASB) reminds us, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing."

The reality of life is that there will be plenty of times when we're tempted to fight against the role and responsibilities God has given us.

For example, sometimes it feels easier or more desirable to indulge in selfish entertainment than to fulfill our responsibilities as a spouse or parent. Perhaps we are tempted to always pass on volunteer or service opportunities because it’s easier or more convenient for us not to have to expend extra time or energy on behalf of others. 

In those moments when our selfish desires tempt us, we must remember our Lord Jesus Christ and how He came and gave us the perfect example of humble service for the good of others. 

In Mark 10:45 (NIV), Jesus stated, "’ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’"

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV) encourages us to embrace the same attitude of humility and sacrificial service that characterized the life and ministry of Jesus: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

When we remember the humility and selflessness that emanated from our Savior, we are encouraged to demonstrate the same qualities in our own lives.

Furthermore, as we remember that our main purpose in life is not to make much of ourselves, but to glorify God as we love Him and love our neighbors, we are prone to embrace a humble lifestyle of sacrificial service that puts the needs and desires of others ahead of our own.

So today, let's clothe ourselves with humility. Let’s cast aside all selfish ambition and humbly consider others as more important than ourselves.

As we do so, we will all win!

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me the perfect example of humble service in the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to humbly and faithfully consider others as more important. May You be glorified as I lay down my life in service of those around me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.