Tag Archives: Don’t Waste Your Sports

In addition to thanking God for sports, we glorify God by playing the game with humility. Sadly, this is one quality that’s often lacking, particularly in professional sports, and more and more in sports at all levels. But here’s an astonishing truth: humility gets God’s attention. In Isaiah 66 we read, “This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). God is decisively drawn to…

First, we play to the glory of God by thanking him for his gifts. Sports, and the ability to play them, are gifts from a merciful God. They are part of God’s kind design for humanity. In addition to being just plain fun, sports bring us many benefits, none of which we deserve. And we should thank God for all of them. Here are just a few: Rest and refreshment: In a fallen world, in the work and weariness of…

Here’s the difference knowing God makes: when I encounter the eternal, almighty, infinite, and merciful God, something changes in my heart. My attention turns away from myself and toward this glorious God. I walk onto the field much less likely to brag, jockey for attention, or try to win others’ admiration. Every play, every inning, every race becomes an opportunity to draw attention to God. That’s what we call worship. And this is why worshiping God isn’t just something we…

Using sports to glorify someone is not a new idea. You may already know that the clothing brand Nike is named after the ancient Greek goddess of victory. But perhaps you didn’t know that the original Olympic games—which occurred hundreds of years before Christ was born—were an athletic festival held in honor of the Greek god Zeus. On the central day of the festival, 100 oxen were sacrificed to him. (This rivals modern Super Bowls for the most absurd halftime…

You won’t find track meets or golf tournaments in the pages of Scripture. But we’re about to look at a passage that applies to all of life, including sports. These few words, if by the grace of God we understand and obey them, will transform our lives. Are you ready for this? It’s a familiar passage, but perhaps you haven’t applied it to the playing field: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the…