1 Corinthians 3:8 - Above the Top of the World
Robert Peary was the first white man to reach the North Pole in 1909. In the years that followed, Peary received most of the public acclaim even though his indispensable assistant, an African American named Matthew Henson, was probably the first to actually set foot on their goal. Peary couldn't have accomplished what he did without the help of Henson. Yet neither one could have gone as far as they did without the aid of the local Inuit.
No awards, medals or titles were given to Ootah, Egigingwah, Seegloo, and Ooqueah. Even after all that, some authorities questioned if Peary was actually the first to make it to the exact location of the North Pole. What does it matter, in the end? How many generations of Inuit had already traversed the polar ice cap and thought nothing of it?
Matthew Henson with Ootah, Egigingwah, Seegloo, and Ooqueah
Consider the contributions, 2,000 years before, of Tychicus, Aristarchus, Epaphras or Epaphroditus. The missionary activity of Paul could not have succeeded without those individuals... and many others anonymous men and women. They worked in cooperation and mutual respect, regardless of their role, for something infinitely more important. Their sights were above the top of the world.
Even the anonymous players will be recognized by God Himself. As Paul himself said,
"...each will receive his own reward according to his own labor."
(1 Corinthians 3:8, New American Standard Bible, 1995.)*
Lord, While none of us is planning a trip to the North Pole, we attempt other achievements. Steer us to the right aspiration, not to "win a prize that will fade away, but [rather] an eternal prize." (1 Corinthians 9:25, New Living Translation) And along the way, we're grateful for the privilege of helping others succeed; that others have guided and helped us, too. Amen.
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