God's Coaching #79

God's Coaching #79

The stench of raw sewage in the streets was almost unbearable, and the depths of poverty were shocking—like adult men bending over to brush their teeth using sand, street water, and their own fingers.

Kyle Korver’s trip to India was indeed a life-changing event. Kyle, a longtime NBA veteran, flew to India in 2008 as part of the league’s Basketball without Borders program. While there, he fed and bathed dying medical patients, brought hundreds of pairs of shoes to poor children, and performed other acts of kindness. Previously, Kyle had taken similar trips to South Africa, China, Brazil, and parts of the United States.

Despite his NBA riches and fame, Kyle has a true heart for others, especially the needy. He learned that trait from his family, which includes many pastors (his father, grandfather, and two uncles). Growing up in the 1980s, Kyle spent many Saturdays helping his dad, Kevin, clean up their hometown of Paramount, California. By the time Kevin’s “Lookin’ Good” project was finished, it had won a national award from President George H. W. Bush for transforming a dangerous, run-down city into a nice place to live. Kyle has carried that others-first attitude into his professional career. Besides his international humanitarian trips, he also started the Kyle Korver Foundation, which reaches out to needy people in several US cities.

What’s the Score?

Many professional sports stars treat charity work as only an obligation. But Kyle showed he was different. For him, helping the needy around the world was one of his passions. He wanted to live out his faith and to show others the love of Christ.

This should be our attitude too. God calls his children to unselfishly help others in need. James 1:27 describes true worship of God as “caring for orphans and widows in their distress”—in other words, helping the poor and needy. Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, did this when he was on earth, giving us a wonderful example to follow. He often sacrificed his personal comfort to help others. Good works don’t save us (only trusting in Jesus can do that), but they are a vivid display of genuine faith.

On the Ball

Find a way to help the needy in your community. Volunteer to do yard work for the elderly or injured. Serve meals at a soup kitchen. Visit a nursing home. Come up with your own idea:

Coach’s Comment

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27