Steve Nash: Man, Myth, Legend

Steve Nash. Point guard for the Phoenix Suns. 2 time NBA MVP. One of the all-time leading players for assists in the NBA. And overall, just a classy guy. A year or two ago I was for some reason or other drawn to the Phoenix Suns. I'm not sure exactly why, their record wasn't super great at the time and they haven't won any championships in a while. I think it was mostly because of Steve Nash. He is known for his ability to see the whole court and to pass the ball to the person who can do the most with it. His best ability is not in scoring, but in being a team player. That is what makes him such a phenomenal athlete, it's not his sheer skill or ability alone, but his ability to bring the best out of other people.

Spiritually speaking, we can all become a "Steve Nash" in our own way. When we enter into the covenant of baptism, we promise certain things, and the Lord promises us certain things in return and helps strengthen us to keep those promises. Part of this covenant states:

"... as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in.... Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized int he name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" (Mosiah 18:8-10)

Jesus Christ wants us to become the best we can be, He wants us to be our very own Steve Nash or MVP. He knows we can become the best player on the court that we can be by serving or assisting others, just like Steve Nash. By being humble, submitting our own skills or abilities to the will of the Lord, and instead choosing to help others, to "mourn with those that mourn" and to "comfort those that stand in need of comfort" we become even stronger and better players than we could be when left to ourselves. We can help bring out the best in other people.  

The world's a court, and everyone's a player.

Do you want to be an MVP or a bench-warmer on the Lord's team?