Playing Sports For God
“May your love abound in discernment…” - Philippians 1:9
PLAYING FOR THE LORD AND LOVE
When I played basketball in high school and college I enjoyed the thrill and the recognition I received for doing well. But, I didn’t like it at all when I did poorly. Ever been there?
When I began to play for God and not for the esteem and praise of people (Colossians 3:23), I had the new joy of giving God the credit when I did well. He was the one who designed my body and gave me every ability I had, including all sports abilities and even my smallest abilities like combing my hair and blowing my nose.
When I gave my sports truly to God I also experienced a new joy of loving others if I performed well or if I did poorly. My love grew because I discerned my pride just as the verse in Philippians 1:9 talks about, “May your love abound in discernment…”
WOW! WHAT A SURPRISE!
One time I played in an extremely close game. I got the ball in the last three seconds of the first half and threw it full court toward the basket. It swished for two points. Everyone was amazed. Me, too.
In the last four seconds of the game I was again thrown the ball at the other team’s basket. I again fired it from full court. It once again made a perfect swish and the buzzer sounded. We won the game.
Everyone went wild. Those in the audience were astonished—I was even more so. But, I didn’t get prideful about it, though. I had finally realized that God had given me my body and He let me have some fun and make two wild shots in one game.
It was interesting to me that the next time I played poorly, it didn’t bother me much. God was becoming increasingly in charge of my basketball and, because I played more and more to please Him and not get people’s recognition, I felt better—regardless of how I played. If He wanted me to do well—fine, I’d use that to be a testimony of His love to others. If not, that was fine, too. I could still use my good attitude and encouragement to be God’s blessing to others. How great it is to be set free from pride and its accompanying opposite—discouragement—when we do poorly!
Turn from your selfish motives of trying to glorify yourself in sports—or in music, academics, business, great looks or whatever channel you may be using. Change to seeking to please God instead. It’s a lot happier way to play any sport and do any activity…and be!
“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” - 1 Corinthians 6:20