Myths, Mistakes, And Failures

Myths, Mistakes, and Failures

NFL Hall of Fame football coach and four-time NASCAR champion Joe Gibbs writes in his book Game Plan for Life about winning championships with the Redskins while struggling horribly with financial mistakes: “Maybe I’ve got a nice résumé and have created some really special memories, but the best—and hardest—lessons I’ve learned in my life have come from failures, my own shortcomings, and buying into some of the biggest myths our modern society has to tell.”^a

One of those myths he bought into is the belief that to be happy, you have to be rich. Our culture idolizes wealth, and if we are not careful, we can quickly worship the god of Mammon, the idol Scripture identifies as the competition for our heart’s allegiance. Matthew 6:24 says, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

Today, Coach Gibbs is a very wealthy man. But he tried to use his wealth from the position he held as the head coach of the Washington Redskins to become rich. This led to many bad investments that almost brought about his financial ruin. Once Coach Gibbs got his house in order by submitting his finances to the Lord and God’s plan for his wealth, he was better able to handle the increase that his experience and abilities enabled him to earn.

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

Matthew 6:24