by Bren Chambers

I have a side ministry as an assistant football coach at a local college. One thing my co-workers at Back to the Bible have discovered is that I can relate football to any situation in life. It drives my wife crazy, but it comes in awfully handy when I meet with members of the team for Bible studies.
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     I ask, "What is your motivation." The response often comes in the form of worldly concepts like recognition, a desire to prove people wrong, or even revenge for past defeats. While these may be effective motivational tools at times, they also make it impossible to maintain your walk with God while playing. When the situation turns and things don't go your way, it is easy to become angry and feel hollow.

     What should the player's motivation be? Without a doubt, love should be the driving force. I'm sure you are wondering what love has to do with football—just stick with me for a moment. As our relationship with Christ grows we will build a very special love for Him, because we realize He loved us first (1 John 4:19). When we love someone we also want to please them. How can we please the Lord? That's where stewardship and even football come into play.

     The Lord has given each of us a certain amount of talent and ability. The emphasis should not be on how much talent we have been given, but how we use that ability. In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) the master was not concerned with the number of talents each servant had, but he focused on how the servants used what they had been given.

     Developing a tremendous work ethic and always giving your best, no matter what the circumstance, is a form of worship—an expression of love for the Lord. On a football field, it is pleasing to God to see athletes give all that they have no matter what the situation—no matter what the score. If the team is ahead by 30 points or behind by 30 points, it should not make a difference. If you are a starter or the last one on the depth chart, it should not make a difference. The amount of your personal effort should not change. The ultimate goal is to please God and to be a good steward of what He has given. That will not prevent disappointment with the score from time to time, but you will have an inner peace knowing you took care of the one thing you can control, the use of what the Lord has given you.

     This is the parallel between what I tell my athletes and how the Bible teaches us to live on a daily basis. Bring the concept into your own situation by answering these questions:

• What is your motivation at work?
• Are you there just to pay the bills?
• Are you trying for a promotion?
• Do you want to gain power within the workplace?

     If these are the motivations that drive your work, you are setting yourself up for disappointment, and God will not be honored God. Are you a vice-president or a custodian? It shouldn't affect how you do your job. God wants your best, no matter what.

     Be a good steward, not only of your financial resources, but also of your time and talent. The Lord sets a much higher standard for us than any coach or boss ever could. Worship and bless the Lord by giving your maximum effort and making the most of what He has given you. I think you will find that you will not only become more productive, but you will also have a much stronger witness for Christ in the workplace or on the football field.