Laying The Groundwork Of Teamwork

Laying the Groundwork of Teamwork

The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers.

1 Corinthians 3:8-9

TEAMWORK IS THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT to a successful marriage. Think about the first command God gave Adam and Eve: to be fruitful and multiply. This command required teamwork; of course, neither a man nor a woman can make a baby alone. As teamwork is required in this basic biological goal, it is also required in the rest of marriage.

The apostle Paul wrote about teamwork in 1 Corinthians 3. He was responding to some new believers who were being divisive by proclaiming their allegiance to either Paul or Apollos. He reminded the Corinthians that it doesn’t matter who completes what task if both people have the same goal. He and Apollos both did their part to share the gospel, and they left the outcome in God’s hands. That’s teamwork.

Teamwork is especially helpful when it comes to processing daily life. Cooking meals, washing dishes, paying bills, sweeping, mopping, mowing, trimming, and driving are all things that must be done to maintain life. Who is going to do what and how often are the questions that lead to teamwork. If you settle this early on, you will avoid a lot of conflict later.

Household tasks are not determined by gender. Some men are better cooks than their wives. Some women are better at math than their husbands and should handle the finances. You are teammates, not competitors. Why not work out a team plan that utilizes your best gifts? Remember, you’re not enemies. You’re on the same team.

Heavenly Father, it’s easy for me to become competitive with my spouse. I’m concerned about who’s doing more and focus too much on what is fair. Show me how to be a good teammate. Help us to work together for the common goal of making our family run smoothly.

Teamwork