Some athletes are motivated by challenge, others by the thrill of winning. Others still are provoked to excellence by the fear of losing. What motivates us to compete at our highest levels? How do coaches and teammates stir us to be our best? We’re certainly not all wired the same.

Hebrews provides some insight into motivation. There are three important parts of Hebrews 10:24 that directly apply to our lives today: (1) “Let us be concerned about one another” implies that real effort is needed to understand each team member. Where motivation is concerned, one size does not fit all. (2) “In order to promote . . .” What promotes a great performance in one person may not affect another. One teammate may require a pat on the back while another may be motivated by a kick in the pants. We must consider what will stir each person most effectively. (3) “Love and good works . . .” We know plenty of people who get stirred up, but not toward love and good deeds. The idea is not just to stir them, but to motivate them for the success of the team. Let’s be aware of the things that help each one achieve at his or her highest level.

As we compete, we must give careful attention to the motivational keys in each of our teammates and find a way to encourage the best possible performance in each one. That is part of being a great teammate, coach, and competitor.