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With the NBA preseason beginning in less than a month, it's easy to become enamored with basketball. Well, maybe that's only true for me. ;-) For many of us, though, sports are exciting and fun! We love to watch them, play them, talk about them, and dream about being really good at them. We cheer on those who can make touchdowns, shoot the trey, or hit a home run.

Thankfully, sports can be used to build and recognize godly character! To do this, Christians needs to look beyond the rim of the hoop into what makes a person truly great in God's eyes. C.J. Mahaney gives some great examples on how he teaches his son this as he participates in sports. Before games and practice he goes over how a person with character would play:

• Humbly receive correction from your coach and ask your coach how you can grow in character as well as athletic skill.

• Thank your coaches for the way they have served you. And thank the referees after each game.

• Encourage your teammates for their display of godly character and athletic skill--in that order of priority.

• Encourage your opponents during and after the game. If you knock someone over, extend your hand to help them up.

• Play the game passionately and unselfishly. Serve your team by playing aggressive defense [his father never did this] and passing the ball on offense [again, his father never did this].

• Humbly respond when the referee calls a foul on you. Do not complain or disagree in word or by facial expression [his father never did this].

• No inappropriate celebrating after you score; instead, recognize that others played a role [his father never did this].

• Thank the team manager for the way he served and recognize the humility and servanthood he is displaying each game. True greatness is sitting on the end of the bench.

Like Al Mohler said,

"know that athletic contest[s] can bring out both the best and the worst in human character... So, celebrate the good, root for your team, and learn to discern what is noble, good, and admirable in everything associated with [sports]. Just don't allow yourself to be fooled into thinking that this is what life is all about, or that life is over when the tournament ends. We are called to a much greater contest than this."

Life is more than throwing an orange ball through a hoop, there's more beyond the rim. The Christian life involves glorifying God in all that you do. This is true greatness.


To read more:
Fathers and Sons and March Madness
March Madness, The Big Dance, and the Meaning of Sport
March Madness, The Big Dance, and the Meaning of Sport Radio Program

Labels: Godliness, Sports