God's Coaching #115

God's Coaching #115

For decades, boxing has been known as “the sweet science”—a unique combination of elegant athleticism and brutal violence. Perhaps more than any other sport, it also seems to be a breeding ground for boasting. When two powerful boxers prepare for a big fight, boasting (or bragging about oneself) never seems to be far behind.

Take Floyd Mayweather Jr., for instance. During his brilliant career, Floyd was an unabashed self-promoter. As the boxing world excitedly anticipated a possible showdown between Floyd and Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao in 2009, Floyd stoked the fire with prideful comments. Here are a few samples:

• “Can Manny Pacquiao beat me? Absolutely not. Easy work, easy fight.”

• “Floyd Mayweather is the face of boxing. All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather.”

• “There’s no fighter that can beat me. The world’s going to go ‘wow’ if Floyd Mayweather gets beat. That’s what everyone’s looking to see.”

But Mayweather’s outsized claims were nothing new to boxing. In the 1960s and 1970s, Muhammad Ali, the great heavyweight champion, made boasting an art form. Before fights, he would often taunt opponents and praise himself with rhyming poems. He once said to a foe, “I’m going to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. George can’t hit what his hands can’t see.”

What’s the Score?

Boasting is commonplace in all sports, not just boxing. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay. In fact, the Bible says boasting is a sin.

We all struggle with boasting, even if we’re not athletic. It’s part of our nature that we must fight to control. We like bringing attention to ourselves and telling others what we can do.

Actually, when you think about it, boasting is quite silly. Any skill or ability we have comes from God, not us. We can’t even breathe or make our heart beat without God’s help! Therefore, as 2 Corinthians 10:17 tells us, the only place for boasting is boasting in the Lord. In other words, instead of talking about what we can do, we should talk about what God can do. He created us and sustains our lives. He provides for all our needs and gives us unique abilities. And he provided a Savior for our sins in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Let’s boast in the Lord!

On the Ball

Make a list of all the things you’re good at. Then one by one, thank God for giving you each talent.

Coach’s Comment

As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” 2 Corinthians 10:17