Volume 44   Number 1                                                                                    September 2001

There is a particular personal statistic in basketball that, among those who truly understand and follow the game, is probably the most important single number that tells a coach, an opposition player, and a real fan how important that particular player is to that team. This statistic is called “assists”. “Assists” are the number of times a player has passed the ball to a teammate that was open for a good shot that was scored by the player receiving the ball. This number can be multiplied by 2 and sometimes 3, and then you can easily see how many points that player generated for his team by simply finding the “open man” and getting the ball to him. In this way he can usually account for many more points rather than attempting to score himself.

Accordingly, this is one of the most important statistics a player can generate, for it shows not only how unselfish he is, but it also forces the opposition to take him very seriously, which sometimes allows his fellow players to get “open” more easily and helps his team that much more. It is interesting to note the one who gains the glory is the one who has the most points, when in reality the one with the most assists is usually more vital to the team’s victory.

It is easy for brethren to get caught up in the number of people they have immersed. Keeping track of such a number can be very dangerous for it can easily lead to pride and an assumption that he may be more important than others. Of course, this is not a good attitude, for it can lead to much harm to the body as well as the individual’s soul. It is worthy to note that the apostle Paul was not aware of the baptism count with regard to the Corinthian brethren. (1 Corinthians 1:14-17) Paul was not aware of it, because the actual number was not the issue.

However, the number of “assists” a brother or sister has is a very great issue. Certainly not to be counted and remembered, for it can easily lead to pride. However, when a brother or sister has helped another brother or sister learn how to preach the gospel to others that is fruit to the Lord’s glory. Paul urged Timothy to teach others so they could in turn teach others. (2 Tim. 2:2) Though Paul’s admonition was primarily in regard to teaching brethren already in the body to teach other brethren, the principle still applies.

In my work as an evangelist, there are few things more satisfying then to have one, whom I have worked with, help lead another to the Lord. For my work seems to primarily be to help “assist” brethren do the “work of the ministry”. (Eph. 4:11) This is the ultimate expression of serving one another—helping another learn to preach Christ and Him crucified. This is certainly one of the ways we can see our fruit to the Lord’s glory by how we have helped others preach to His glory!

Let us not be concerned about how many we have baptized, for certainly we must preach Christ to as many as we can, and as a result we are privileged to help them be born into the Lord’s kingdom. Our emphasis should be on helping others, so that they would in turn learn to preach the gospel as well. In this way we will be gaining “assists” and be vitally important to the Lord’s work.