Lilly: It's a good thing you came. There's something we wanted to show you. We were recently invited to be on a game show! The name of the show is "Strategy Stand" with the famous host, Sam Stick!
Dodger: It was pretty exciting. We went up against two other Pac-Mans, named Fred and Janet.
Lilly: We won the prize, too, a big purple ribbon worth six free hamburgers at any restaurant we want!
Dodger: We actually had the whole show filmed. If you like you can watch it below!
Lilly: You may have noticed that Dodger and I were able to help each other answer questions, and that neither of us could've done it alone.
Dodger: In fact, I would have lost pretty badly if I had tried. There were a few questions for which I had no clue as to what the answer was.
Lilly: I needed Dodger's help in order to win.
Dodger: And I needed Lilly's. Perhaps you've been in a situation similar to ours. You know, when you've had to rely on someone else in order to make things work. You had to work with that person in a combined effort to succeed. If you're on a sports team, or have worked with someone on a science project before, you know what that's like.
Lilly: You've probably also seen what happens when you have a partner who won't cooperate with you, or thinks they know everything.
Dodger: I remember once I saw a football game where the quarterback kept trying to carry the ball on his own, but kept getting sacked because he wouldn't throw to his teammates. His team lost that game.
Lilly: Some people do well on their own, but everyone does better when they have help!
Dodger: Exactly. The key to mine and Lilly's success on the show was our teamwork, which is actually our topic today.
Lilly: One of the biggest temptations I think we suffer from is our wish to "know everything", to be the smartest and not need anybody's help.
Dodger: The problem with that is that if we give in to our wish to "know-it-all", we can often fail, just like the quarterback in the football game.
Lilly: We should forget about flying solo. In order to really succeed, we need help from those around us, and especially from God! With so many people and Pac-Mans around who want to help, and a Father God who loves us more than anything, it's foolish not to let others help.
Dodger: I remember that I used to not want help. As far as I was concerned, I was all that and a bag of chips! Pretty silly of me to think so, especially since the only reason I can even breathe is because of the God who made me. One day though, after one of my biggest failures, I realized that I couldn't do everything on my own. I was in a mess that I couldn't clean up because of my pride, and I needed help. So I swallowed my pride, and asked for help. That was all I had to do. With the help of my parents, my God, and even Lilly, I was actually able to get out of the trouble I was in. I've never forgotten that lesson. I don't know where I'd be now if I hadn't given up my "know-it-all" wish and admitted that I couldn't do life on my own.
Lilly: I'm sure you've heard the saying, "I can do it by myself!" Guess what? Actually, none of us can. In order to do our best, we need help. No effort is so good that it can't be improved with a little teamwork! One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Ecclesiastes 4:12, which says "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." This simply means that each of us on our own can be brought down more easily, but with the help of a friend, we can be safe from some of the things which attack us.
Dodger: The coolest thing about working with others is that the effort comes out better, but as it turns out, we have more than just our human friends to help! If you look at Proverbs 18:24, it says: "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." This means that even if our friends fail when we are in trouble, there is a Friend who will always be there for us. His name is Jesus. If you know Him, good for you! You can be glad knowing the promise in Deuteronomy 31:8, where he says, "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." If you don't know Him, take a look at the Gospel of John, and at the "Why We Need Jesus" column on the right.
Lilly: If you've been like Dodger and not wanted help in the past from anyone, guess what? You can change that right now! All you need to do is ask God for forgiveness if you've been unkind to those who've tried to help you, and apologize to those people too, and from now on, be willing to be helped!
Dodger: I know that doesn't exactly sound easy, but trust me, it's well worth it.
Lilly: It looks like we're out of time for today.
Dodger: Yep. Looks like you're right. Well then, thanks for coming today! Remember, God loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Goodbye!!! Now let's go get some hamburgers!
(All scripture is from the NIV 1984)
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