Pastor John D Jakes

Americans are really focused on sports. The football season has just ended. Basketball season is in full swing with the college playoffs in March followed by the professional playoffs which don’t end until June. Professional racing starts in February and continues through November. Baseball begins in late March and doesn’t end until October. And football begins anew in August! With so much time given to sports, it would be a good idea for Christians to think about how we can glorify God as we cheer on or participate in sports.

I am perpetually amazed at this verse: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) This verse amazes me for 2 reasons. First, I am challenged by the call to make everything that I do glorify God. Second, I am astounded by the fact that what I think of as little or insignificant things can glorify God. Yet, this is exactly what Paul says to the church in Corinth.

We might be surprised that Paul began his ideas for this declaration back in chapter 8. In chapter 8, Paul urges the Corinthians to not use their freedom to cause a Christian brother or sister to have a crisis of conscience. He emphasizes this point in chapter 9 by talking about his own commitment to this calling. In Paul’s case, this commitment included giving up the right to seek to marry, having churches pay him a stipend for his daily needs, and many other ‘rights’ so that he can clearly proclaim the truth of Jesus.

So, Paul clarifies in chapter 10 that everything he has been talking about in these three chapters is about glorifying God. We glorify God by avoiding those things that God has clearly told us are sins. We glorify God by living freely without misplaced legalism. We glorify God by making our clear witness of Jesus the priority of exercising our freedom.

What does this have to do with sports? There are a few implications for life from truths that Paul highlights in these chapters…

1. No matter the activity (eating, drinking, sports, etc), our higher calling to glorify God is never turned off. Nothing turns off the high calling to glorify God.
2. Idolatry of any type cannot glorify God. The test of idolatry is two-fold. 1) The level of time and/or sacrifice that a person commits to an action over time. 2) The place of the activity or item to make us happy or disappointed. In other words, the place the activity or thing has in our hearts.
3. The supreme way that we glorify God through our everyday activities is by maintaining a clear witness to the saving grace of Jesus.

How do these implications for life connect with sports? Consider these…

1. When I play on or cheer for a team, I am still representing God. This has implications for sportsmanship, rubbing others’ noses in defeat, and sulking over a loss.
2. My heart should be cautioned if I am more willing to sacrifice or cheer for my team than I am to sacrifice or be excited about God (Father, Son, or Spirit).
3. If I cannot keep a clear witness to others in how I carry myself in the sport that I like then it is better to step out of the sport than to hurt the reputation of Jesus or the person who Jesus died for.

Obviously, there are more specific applications that each of us could make in how we cheer, how we play, and what part sports play in our lives; but those applications are best left to be between you and Jesus. It is enough to notice that the glory of God is both significant enough to give careful thought and is profound enough to encompass every activity under Heaven. May we give His glory the weight He deserves!

Something to think about,

Pastor John