God's Coaching #343

God's Coaching #343

Whoosh! Pete Sampras’s running forehands used to disappear past opponents like cupcakes at a birthday party. One moment you saw it. The next it was gone. But early in December 2010, it was Pete’s championship trophies that vanished in a headline-making case of thievery. In a 15-year Hall of Fame career, Pete had won 64 total tournaments, including a then-record 14 Grand Slam titles. That’s a lot of hardware! But most of Pete’s collection of trophies and other memorabilia was swiped from a public storage facility in West Los Angeles, California.

Thirteen of his major championship trophies remained safe in other locations, but his 1994 Australian Open trophy and all his other awards were gone. The haul also included an Olympic ring and his awards for being ranked No. 1 in the world for six straight years, winning five season-ending ATP World Tour titles, and playing on two Davis Cup–winning teams. “Losing this stuff,” Pete told reporters, “is like having the history of my tennis life taken away.”

What’s the Score?

Sadly, Pete learned a real-life lesson of something Jesus talked about in the Bible. In Matthew 6, Jesus warned a large group of followers not to chase after earthly possessions. We would do well to heed Jesus’ words too.

We love stuff. Toys, video games, musical devices, sports equipment, clothes, money—you name it. We love cool new gadgets and the latest fads. It’s part of our sinful nature to crave more and more. But all earthly possessions will eventually fade away. They’ll break, deteriorate, get lost, become outdated or, like Pete’s trophies, get stolen. Think about it: in a few years, your favorite video game, toy, or electronic device will probably be broken, lost, or replaced by the next hot item. Why run after things like that? Rather, Jesus said, we should store up heavenly treasures that will last forever. These are the eternal blessings that Christians will receive after they die for obeying God and serving others here on earth. Let’s go after those treasures instead!

On the Ball

Give away some of your possessions to those less fortunate than you. Surprise a needy friend or neighbor. Or drop off a package at a thrift store such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

Coach’s Comment

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21