God's Coaching #253

God's Coaching #253

Some do a silly dance. Others flex their biceps. Some let out a primal scream like the Incredible Hulk’s. Once, a player took a Sharpie pen out of his sock, signed the football, and presented it to his agent behind the end zone after a touchdown. Regardless of how they do it, NFL players seem to perform a self-promoting celebration after every big play they make. It doesn’t matter if it’s a touchdown, a sack, or a big catch. Players have even been known to excessively celebrate after a simple first down when their team is losing by three touchdowns.

Perhaps the NFL’s most well-known showman is wide receiver Terrell Owens, who performed the infamous “Sharpie Touchdown.” The list of Terrell’s post-touchdown antics includes mocking an opposing player’s pregame entrance, dancing with a cheerleader’s pom-poms, and pretending to take a nap in the end zone, using the football as a pillow. You’ve got to hand it to Terrell: he is nothing if not original.

What’s the Score?

But there’s a problem with all these look-at-me actions. Even if their antics make us laugh, this kind of behavior reveals pride (or thinking too highly of yourself). According to the Bible, pride isn’t funny at all. It is a very dangerous sin.

God takes pride seriously. Because of pride, sin entered the world when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, thinking that they knew better than God. Because of pride, the nations of Israel and Judah fell to enemy armies in the Old Testament. In fact, pride is so dangerous that, in Mark 7:20-22, Jesus equates it to other sins that can “defile you,” like theft, greed, and murder. To avoid pride, we must avoid thinking too highly of ourselves, whether in sports or elsewhere in life. We must work hard not to bring attention to ourselves. Everything we have is a gracious gift from God, including our athletic talents. And we should never presume to know more than God.

On the Ball

Make it a habit to verbally give glory to God, rather than to yourself, whenever you do something well. Try to remain humble even when you do something outstanding.

Coach’s Comment

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Proverbs 16:18