God's Coaching #181

God's Coaching #181

They call him Mr. Irrelevant. Not a very flattering title, is it? Irrelevant means “immaterial” or “it doesn’t matter.” When applied to an NFL player, it basically means “that guy isn’t going to amount to anything in the league.” Each June, a California organization throws a four-day party called “Irrelevant Week” for the last player picked in that year’s NFL Draft. Historically, that player has been known as Mr. Irrelevant. The player—often an athlete from a little-known college—enjoys a party in his honor and takes part in other activities like a boat trip and a trip to Disneyland.

Irrelevant Week was the brainchild of Paul Salata, a bench-warming NFL wide receiver in 1949–1950 who wanted to provide a little recognition to the underdog. Since he first started Irrelevant Week in 1976, Paul has raised more than $1 million for local charities. A few Mr. Irrelevants have found success in the NFL. Kansas City Chiefs kicker Ryan Succop, the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant, set a franchise rookie record with 25 field goals that year after being picked 256th in the draft. But most players who earn this dubious title never make an NFL roster and have to find another career. But at least for one week in Southern California, they are treated like kings.

What’s the Score?

Have you ever felt alone, unloved, or unwanted? To put it another way, have you ever felt irrelevant? It’s a feeling many of us struggle with at some point in life. We wonder if God is there and if he really cares. Take heart! There are no Mr. (or Miss) Irrelevants to God. He considers every single person on earth important, including you. We see evidence of this throughout Scripture. He formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-15) and directs your life (Proverbs 16:9). In fact, in Luke 12, Jesus himself testifies to God’s love and personal care for all people, telling us that he has numbered the very hairs of our heads.

If the all-powerful, all-knowing God knows the smallest of details about us, clearly we are very relevant to him . . . even if we’re the last pick in the NFL Draft!

On the Ball

Try counting the number of hairs on your head. (Hint: it’s impossible.) Once you realize God knows the number, thank him for loving you so personally and considering you very relevant to him!

Coach’s Comment

What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:6-7