The Lombardi Principle

Curly Lambeau solicited funds for football uniforms and equipment from his employer, the Indian Packing Company in 1911. In 1912, the Green Bay Packers football team was born. Lambeau became its first coach and coached the Packers for their first twenty-eight years of existence until 1949. Vince Lombardi became head coach in 1959. His philosophy and leadership was a major contributor to the fact that no football team has won more championships than the Packers under the leadership of these two men. Lombardi’s philosophy was simply stated. He required his team members to all hold the same priorities. God was to be held as highest priority. Even though he was a good catholic there is no evidence that Lombardi had a personal relationship with God. He did, however, require that everyone honor God first and above all us in function. His second required priority was family. Family was to be first above all else. Nothing would ever be tolerated that threatened either of these two priorities. The third required priority was stated simply in two words: “The Packers.” The team was to be an obsession that the importance of which could never be challenged by anything at any time other than the above stated priorities. All individual needs and desires must be laid aside. Lombardi was firmly convinced. Maintaining these three priorities took consistent dedication, hard work, integrity, accountability and sacrifice. These are the makings of a strong and secure ministry staff. When these priorities breakdown the unity of the staff is fractured. We are here to serve God together and to protect our families. The decisions we make are not always easy. Sometimes our family must suffer because of our commitment to Christ in the ministry. Sometimes our effectiveness in ministry must suffer because of family needs. If the tension between these two is ever lost, the effectiveness of the staff is compromised. A significant potential threat to the unity of the staff is subtle individual ministry elevation in the priority grid. Our various individual ministries are to be complimentary and supportive of one another. When they become competitive or create envy or jealousy with other ministries, then disaster is just around the corner. Using the Lombardi principle, we can perhaps say that for there to be unity in the body of Christ all groups in any local body should share the same priorities: [1] God [2] family [3] work and [4] service to the local church. There unavoidable tensions between each of these at times but the tension is evidence of spiritual health.

1. What lessons are we to draw from I Corinthians 7:33?

2. According to I John 2:15, we are not to “love” the world. The meaning is certainly not to love the world too much. What would be some indicators that we are enjoying the good things God has made for us but enjoying them too much? (see II Tim. 4:10)

3. Is it possible to so spiritually-minded that you are no earthly good?

4. Can work be a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:2) and how would you describe this as evidence?