God's Coaching #265

God's Coaching #265

At the time, it didn’t seem like a historic baseball game. On September 22, 1911, the dreadful Boston Rustlers were concluding a three-game series in Pittsburgh. Boston was about to finish last in the National League at 44–107. The Pirates would finish in only third place. Just 1,208 fans came out to see the game at old Forbes Field. Little did the tiny crowd know what it was about to witness. Pittsburgh’s twenty-nine-year-old ace, Babe Adams, threw a good game. But Babe lost a 1–0 decision to the grand old man of baseball, forty-four-year-old Cy Young. That victory ended up being the final win of Cy’s incomparable career—number 511.

Cy was one of baseball’s first true superstars. From 1890 to 1911, the six-foot-two-inch right-hander went 511–316, an astounding wins record that likely will never be broken. The next pitcher on the career wins list is Washington Senators great Walter Johnson with 417, but he retired after the 1927 season! No current pitcher is close to 300 career wins. Cy won 30 games in a season five times and topped 20 wins 15 times. Besides his total-victories mark, Cy’s 7,356 total innings pitched and 749 complete games are also virtually unbreakable records.

What’s the Score?

Cy not only recorded the most victories in baseball history, but he also gave up the most hits (7,092). His legacy of hard work, durability, and faithfulness to his craft over a long period of time paid off with the reward of elite recognition. In 1936, he was elected into Baseball Hall of Fame’s first induction class. Even today, baseball’s most prestigious annual pitching honor is called the Cy Young Award.

According to the Bible, Christians also will receive a great reward for a life of hard work and faithfulness to God. He has given all of us different abilities—athletic, academic, artistic, musical, etc.—and he wants us to use them for his glory. Life isn’t always easy, and like Cy, we won’t always win. But if we are faithful to obey him and serve him with our gifts over our lifetimes, we, too, will receive a great reward at the end—in heaven!

On the Ball

List your strengths and abilities in one column and how you can use them for God’s glory in another.

Ability How I Can Use It for God

Coach’s Comment

The LORD gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal. 1 Samuel 26:23