Who’s Calling the Plays?

As a coach, you’ve probably tried to learn from the best in your profession through clinics, articles, visits, and the informal conversations that happen when coaches get together. The knowledge we gain is often priceless, but sometimes it’s costly. Costly not so much in the areas of strategy and fundamentals, but in regard to the way we relate to players, coaches, and parents. This is not to suggest that advice in these areas is always negative, but any counsel we receive regarding the “life-related” issues of coaching, family, finances, etc. is potentially harmful if not filtered through God’s Word. Regarding God’s Word, the psalmist writes, “Your decrees are my delight and my counselors” (Ps 119:24).

Advice from others is priceless, but when it causes us to stray from God’s design, it becomes detrimental. Today’s verses encourage us to “get wisdom”—wisdom from God. Key words in the passage teach us about godly wisdom. God’s wisdom is not only the best; verse 7 labels it as “supreme.” The verses also promise that God’s wisdom will protect us. Man’s wisdom holds no such promise. In fact, “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Co 1:25).

While coaching, I once realized I was listening to sources that might have been contrary to God’s design. As a result, I studied the Book of Proverbs to see how God would want me to coach. When I did, I learned that God’s ways were indeed supreme. I found out personally that gaining understanding, regardless of the cost, was definitely worth it. It might cost something to learn godly wisdom, but I learned firsthand that it costs a lot more not to.