Gordon won the American League Most Valuable Player for that season!

In spite of the flaws mentioned above Joe Gordon had a great season. He batted .322, fourth in the AL, with 18 homers and 103 runs batted in. Gordon teamed with Phil Rizzuto to lead the league in double plays turned defensively. In 1942 Joe Gordon was deemed to be the MVP of the league despite some obvious weaknesses in his game. Great managers and good teammates know that every player has strengths and every player has weaknesses.

Too often we dwell on the weakness and not the gifts that God has given others. Or we acknowledge the gifts but make sure to note the weaknesses. All of us are a mix of gifts and flaws. Paul mentions spiritual gifts in his letter to the Roman church:

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong- that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

The text might sound as if Paul's giving away spiritual gifts to the first ten callers. A better translation might be that Paul wants to use his spiritual gifts to strengthen and encourage others.

Every single Christian is given spiritual gifts. We are given those gifts for many reasons, but two of the primary ones are to glorify God and strengthen one another.

But I wonder if we sometimes look at our spiritual gifts as something that we have the right to exercise for our own personal fulfillment and glory?

Joe Gordon often struck out when his team needed a hit. Sometimes made an error when the pitcher threw a good pitch and should have gotten an out. But his teammates (and the rest of the league) saw his gifts. Base runners batted in and key home runs hit. A vital double play turned and great range at his position. That's what made him valuable to a winning team. His strengths were vital to the team. His flaws were compensated by the team working in unity toward the goal of the World Series.

It's just too easy to concentrate on everyone else's flaws and foibles. The World Series is a wonderful goal but it pales in comparison to the goal that Jesus challenged us to pursue. Do we understand what it means to be unified for the common goal expressed so succinctly in 1Corinthians 13:8-Love never fails?

That's the game plan. Each of us has been given spiritual gifts to contribute. Each of us has human flaws. Can we pray that we will be mature enough to focus on Who unites us instead of what divides us? Even the MVP of the American League had shortcomings. So will pastors, leaders and other church workers, not to mention friends and family. We learn the law of uniting as we pursue the great calling of Christ to live out this life in His image.

Another thing that winning teams understand. You don't have to be best friends with everyone on the team but you do have to be united for the common goal of the team. God has given us the grace to be unified as a team for His glory. He wants to teach us to use our gifts to strengthen one another and glorify Him. We are all gifted and we are all flawed. Great teams, whether baseball or football or you and I following Christ, understand that truth.