Proverbs 25:19 -Like a broken tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
When I was in high school, I played left offensive guard and defensive tackle on our football
team. On offense, my job was to block for our running backs and most importantly protect the quarterback. Even if the play called in the huddle was going to the right side of the field, my job was to block. On those plays, the quarterback would be facing the right side of the field, and he would not be able to see the defenders coming from his left. My job was to protect his “blind side” from those defenders.
During one game, it was late in the 4th quarter and I was tired. The play called in the huddle
was a pass to the right side of the field. So when the ball was snapped, I didn’t put much effort into the block. I figured the defender across from me wouldn’t get to the quarterback at all, just like most of the other plays, because it was going to the right. What I didn’t know was that the defense had called a play where two defenders would rush the quarterback…on my side. Because of my laziness, I missed my block and our all-conference, star quarterback got hit…hard…by both defenders.
When we got back to the huddle, I could tell that he wasn’t too happy with me. Before calling the next play, the quarterback looked at me and yelled, “Are you playing for the other team? Come on…do your job and block!”. My job was to protect his blind side and I didn’t do it.
When God called us into His Kingdom, He called us not only to salvation, but to serve and
impact others. He provided us a community of believers (a team) with different talents, skills
and aptitudes with the goal of advancing His Kingdom (Matthew 28:16 – 20). And just like a
football team, each one of us has a specific role to play (1 Corinthians 12:12 – 26) When we
don’t do our part, we undermine the mission (the Great Commission).
In the Proverb above, the word “unfaithful” comes from a Hebrew word that means: to act or
deal treacherously. Treacherous acts undermine the efforts of others and can keep them from achieving their goal. When we fail to do our part in the Kingdom, it directly affects others.
Have you let laziness cause you to “miss your block”? Have you missed “team meetings”
(gatherings with other believers) and don’t know what play is being called (the mission of your church)? Have you been distracted and focused on the wrong things, missing your divine assignment? Have you been deceived into thinking that your role is not that important to the “team”?
Don’t get called out by our “Quarterback”, and act like you are playing for the other team. Do your part that God has called and equipped you to do; protect the blind side.