Play to Win
Article By Janet Villa, FCA Leader in the Philippines
When the demands of the world clash with our faith, what do we do?
A collegiate basketball league in the Philippines allowed its participating teams to recruit two players from other countries, or “imports,” on the condition that a team could field only one import on the court at any time. In one game, a college coach—let’s call him Coach Albert—forgot this rule and played both his imports in the second quarter. After only 30 seconds of play, Coach Albert realized his mistake and immediately recalled one of his imports.
He won the game. None of the spectators, players, table officials, referees or opponents noticed his error. If he kept quiet, his team could move in the standings. After all, his violation lasted for only 30 seconds in the second quarter—a lapse that had no bearing on his victory.
But if Coach Albert reported his violation to the league, he would forfeit his win.
What to do?
The pressure on coaches and athletes to win is immense. Oftentimes, a coach’s job, an athlete’s scholarship or the approval of a parent is contingent on our win. The excessive focus on winning at all costs has created a broken and distorted sports culture that compromises ethical play.
When the demands of the world clash with our faith, what do we do?
REMEMBER FOR WHOM WE COACH OR PLAY
We have been redeemed by grace to glorify our Father.
We please Him, not the world. God bought us for a high price, so we honor Him with our play with the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:20). Because we are deeply loved by the Maker of heaven and earth, coaching and playing becomes our form of worship.
Our God of excellence asks us to work hard and play well.
Our God of order asks us to follow the rules of the game.
Our God of justice asks us to play fair.
REMEMBER WHOSE AND WHO WE ARE
We are His—the beloved of the Most High. What joy there is in having been designed as His image bearers in sports! We become competitors who reveal God’s love to a world inclined to self-focus and self-preservation.
When we compete with integrity, we mirror the righteousness of our Creator.
When we honor our coaches, spectators and officials, we reflect His goodness.
When we respect and grant grace to those we play with or against, we demonstrate God’s relational heart.
We can compete exceptionally because in Christ we have first experienced God’s grace, forgiveness and love.
REMEMBER WHAT THE REAL WIN IS
How we compete reflects what we value most.
Competing to please others is vain as we focus on ourselves instead of on Christ, which is ultimately useless in the face of eternity.
Competing for our personal glory is also vanity—from the Latin root vanitas, meaning “empty.” What will it profit us if we win a game but suffer the loss of our soul?
As ambassadors for Christ, we place a higher premium on obeying God than merely being successful at our sport.
“Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” –Proverbs 21:3
In Christ, we have been given the wisdom to know what glorifies God, the power of the Holy Spirit to do what is right and the joy of living out our faith.
As stewards of our sport, the real win is to “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Remember Coach Albert?
He decided to report his mistake to the league.
He decided to forfeit the game.
He decided to play to win.
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Live It Out:
Quarter Verse – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” –John 1:14
Question – For whom do you play? In what ways do you make your sport about you instead of about Christ?
Challenge – Memorize Colossians 3:23-24, and then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how you could compete well and wholeheartedly for the Lord.
*If you read this article and aren’t in relationship with Christ yet but would like to know more, we invite you to go through FCA’s The FOUR, which explains how an everlasting and fulfilling life with God is possible.
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