Le Tour de France
“Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others
better than himself” (Philippians 2:3)
We ENJOYED “Le
Tour de France,” the amazing bicycle race
that winds its way through France and into a bit of
Germany for an incredible two thousand miles, over
21-days of action. We found it a couple of years
ago, while watching the little television sets in
front of us on an airplane trip from California to
Washington, DC, in the USA, a flight that takes
about five hours. We were enthralled by “Le Tour”
on the trip to DC, watching more on the return
flight, a few days later. We became avid fans. The
race is on television at 5:30 AM here, and so we
lost some sleep during the three weeks of “Le
Tour.” It was worth it.
The announcers are wonderful.
They hooked us with glimpses into the history of the
race and especially, they opened up an understanding
of the strategies brought into play by the racers
themselves and the teams they represent. Yes, it
was interesting that we were watching the fifth,
then a historic sixth and now an amazing seventh win
by the American, Lance Armstrong, but this race is
different than other sporting events, and I’ll tell
you why – they work together! Even those on
opposing teams tend to set aside differences for a
moment and demonstrate concern for other riders.
The teams themselves each have
a leader, someone considered to be so good that the
others on the team subordinate their own interests
to help their leader win. One member of the team
might be better at climbing, while another is good
in sprints to the finish of a “stage” (a segment) of
the race, and yet someone else is an expert in “time
trials,” where they race the clock instead of
directly facing-off against each other. Team
members speed ahead, allowing their captain and
others to “draft,” to follow closely behind their
bicycle. The ones in front face the wind and get
tired so that others may succeed, and the rest will
“draft” in turn for them. Sometimes, groups of
opposing riders will leap ahead of the “Peleton”
(the main body of riders) and “draft” each other
toward the finish, understanding that none can win
the stage they are currently on, if they try to do
it alone.
Many times we have seen
chivalrous acts in the race that would be considered
quaint or might even be “booed” by the fans in other
sporting events. A rival will slow himself in
concern when an opponent falls, and one rider will
give up his bike, if needed by the captain of his
team. We like the difference seen in the chivalry
of “Le Tour de France.”
If you think about it, praying
for someone else is like “drafting” for another team
– you give up something of yourself (your time and
energy) for someone else. You have needs, too, but
just like the racers in the “Tour de France,” it
just makes sense that if we help one another, ALL
will benefit. In the “Tour,” only one can win the
overall race, but another can win a stage of the
race, while someone else gains the “green jersey” by
accumulating the most points, and there are other
prizes in the race as well. In life, ALL can win by
entering the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus
Christ. And ALL can do well when the others are
“drafting” them by praying for their needs.
At Friday Study Ministries, the
First Church On The Net, we have a wonderful, active
Prayer Team, and in addition, we send out our prayer
requests to the Walk to Emmaus Prayer Team. We also
meet in our home on Sunday afternoons and make SURE
each request is addressed, by praying for each of
them, one at a time. We want those who ask us for
prayer to have as many responses to their needs as
possible. We want YOUR prayers to be answered.
For a number of years, I have
been fascinated by Philippians Chapter 2. We see
the heart of our Lord, “Who,
being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no
reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming
in the likeness of men. And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became
obedient to the point of death, even the death of
the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Let’s take those verses one
step at a time: Jesus was with God the Father, and
was Himself God, equal with the Father. Yet He gave
up everything and became a man-servant to serve the
needs of people like you and me. He went to the
cross and died for our sins so that we may become
free.
Our Scripture verse for today
is taken from the same Chapter, where we learn that
we are to “Let nothing be
done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself” (Philippians 2:3). Like Jesus gave
up His majesty in order to serve you and me, so we
are to give up thinking only of ourselves and start
caring for the needs of other people. The section
continues: “Let each of you
look out not only for his own interests, but also
for the interests of others” (Philippians
2:4).
In “Le
Tour de France,” we have seen a number of
instances where a group of bicyclists race toward
the finish line in a stage of the race, and suddenly
the leader backs off a little, pats the back of one
of the other riders, and lets them win. Obviously
all the racers have their own interests and want to
win something, too, but they SHARE the glory and
HELP one another! What a concept! And that’s the
way we are to be in the Body of Christ, the group of
people we call the “church.”
Sometimes we think we can’t
help others and can’t pray for them because WE are
in crisis ourselves and don’t have the time. I’ve
been reading “Pastors at
Greater Risk,” by H. B. London, Jr., and in a
section called “Help and
Healing for Wounded Healers,” the author
makes this statement: “Your
problem might look very different if you ask
yourself how the situation looks to God.”
Take your problem to God, and when you do, ask Him
to clear up your own problems for this very
different reason: so you will have the time and
energy to pray for others. He loves it that you are
concerned for them, and it may be that our
preoccupation with ourselves has been the very
deterrent that has kept our prayers from being
answered, all this time. Let’s pray:
Lord, even in a bike race, some
of the racers are concerned for others and will help
them win. Shouldn’t we do the same in the Body of
Christ, the church? I think so, Lord, and I ask You
for the strength and the love to pray for them, even
though my life isn’t perfect, either. I want to
pray for others, Lord. – Help me to help them, to
pray for them. In Jesus Name. Amen.
