There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. – 1 Corinthians 12:4

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 11, 2014): 1 Corinthians 12

Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson recently made a comparison between the way that he plays football and a point guard in basketball (which is interesting because a basketball point guard has often been charged with being the quarterback on the basketball court.) In basketball, a point guard is often in charge of moving the ball forward and then making a quick, on the spot decision as to where to put the ball depending on the defense he sees as he moves up the court. He needs to be able to react fast and improvise, all based on the tendencies he sees forming on behalf of his opponent. There are set plays in basketball, but what is more common is this idea of watching the defense and taking advantage of whatever the defense seems to be giving up.

In contrast, American football is built around the idea of a set play. What is happening as the players huddle on the field is not a conversation about how the player’s families are doing (at least not normally). The huddle is the place where a certain play is called and every player (hopefully) understand specifically what needs to go as he takes his place on the field. The play develops in football in a matter of a couple of seconds – the quarterback has less than four seconds to get rid of the football to either a running back or a receiver. In NBA basketball, the point guard has twenty-four seconds to make the play – and eight seconds to get the ball across half court.

So, enter Russell Wilson. Yes there are still set plays, but Wilson’s idea of the quarterback is that he is the one who simply sees what the defense is giving and distributes the ball accordingly, including the option to keep the ball and run. In seeing what the defense will give him, he often scrambles which lengthens the amount of time that he has to distribute the ball. No it never gets to the twenty-four second mark that is available in a basketball game, but it is not unusual to see him still with the ball after seven or eight seconds. A point guard quarterback has the ability to make fast decisions and improvise on the field of play. He can run the fast break – which in football would mean going without a huddle – to perfection. And he never seem to get rattled.

And this is exactly the image that I have of the Holy Spirit in this passage. Paul says that the Holy Spirit (and I hope this doesn’t sound sacrilegious) is the point guard quarterback of the church. He distributes the gifts where they will do the most good, considering the defense he sees being put up on the other side. So if we feel that we have been gifted in a certain area, there is a good reason for it. The Holy Spirit is going on the offense, and we are simply where he needs someone with our gifts to be.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13