My way or the high way

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1

We live in a culture that seems to say, if I want it, I will take it by force. There have been more wars in the 20th century than in any century before it. We may be technologically advanced but not in character. The world is full of tyrants and dictators who rule for their own gain, not the good of their people.

And it is not just in governments that you find tyrants. Many of us have played under coaches who were bullies, who always had to be right, who humiliated players who dared to disagree with them. Some of us may have experienced similar types of leadership in the church.

The Christian should have no part of this. In the following verses the key words that James uses are "humble, submit, purify". We are to choose God’s way not the world’s. We are to take our example from Jesus who "being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Phil 2:6-8).

As we represent Christ in the world of sport, let us aim to do so in a spirit of humility – not pushing for our own position but acting in the interests of others.

Expectations

Jesus answered, "If I want him[John] to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." John 21:22

Shortly after the Beijing Olympics I was told of a conversation that a colleague had on the telephone with South African swimming legend Penny Heyns. They were talking about the pressure of the Olympics and how other people’s expectations and the fear of letting them down can add to the pressure.

Stuart described the conversation in the following way.

Then Penny said: “As Christians we need to remember that we perform for an audience of one and not be weighed down by other people's expectations. I know that is not easy”. So simple yet so profound.

As we walk off the field, step out of the pool, can we honestly say we have given it our all and sought to give glory to God? If so, we have been successful. In sport – as in all walks of life – it is easy to be caught up in what other people think of us.

In the verse at the top Jesus reminds Peter that his energy should be concentrated on following Jesus, not on what happens to John. The challenge to concentrate on what Jesus wants us to do, regardless of what others may think or what others may do, is a timely reminder to many of us.