Conquering the Idol

Being an athlete is tough. It requires waking up early, staying late and working hard — and sometimes the results don’t truly show how much work you’ve done and time you have invested.

However, being an athlete can also be extremely rewarding. Teamwork, discipline and the sense of accomplishment when there’s a win are the sweet rewards of a lot of hard work.

Being a competitor requires so much that sometimes athletes need this simple reminder: sports is not life. Your sport is one part of your life; it isn’t your entire life. Jesus is life. He gives life; He sustains life; and He desires and deserves nothing to be placed above Him in our lives. We spend so much time with our team and in practice that our athletic endeavors can unconsciously become idols in our lives.

As a competitor, you have a constant desire to defeat the opposing team and to win. As a Christian, the same is true. You must defeat the idols in your life, whatever they may be. When you conquer these idols, you become less self-centered, a better Christian, a better teammate and a better player.

God has big plans for you through your sport. Just make sure that your sport isn’t replacing God in your life!