Consumed by a Desire to Serve

As Christian competitors, we realize that God has called us to serve. But do we understand that we should be consumed to serve? Is there a consuming fire that burns in us to serve others around us who are hurting and to help those who need to experience the love of Christ through us?

We serve because the ultimate purpose of serving is to glorify Christ. Rick Warren said, “We serve God by serving others. The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. . . . In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.”9 In the athletic world, everyone struggles to some degree with the “me first” mentality. We buy into the lie that we are better than others because of our giftedness in athletics. So are we consumed with self or consumed with serving?

When serving, we need to have intentionality (plan it!), intensity (seize it!) and intimacy (feel it!). The passion for serving must come from the heart. Samuel Chadwick said it best: “Spirit filled souls are ablaze for God. They love with a love that glows. They serve with a faith that kindles. They serve with a devotion that consumes. They hate sin with fierceness that burns. They rejoice with a joy that radiates. Love is perfected in the fire of God.”

On and off the field of competition, we need to be radical about serving. Can you imagine if thousands of coaches and athletes across the country got passionate about serving their teams? Why shouldn’t that revolution begin with you?