TCW Short Take #3: Doing Sports God’s Way, Not the Idol-Worshipping Way

So how do Christian parents block out or not get distracted by that worldly perspective? Because it's difficult to do. Or for athletes as well.

Because all the players on their team are playing for different reasons. How does an athlete or parent make sure that whatever they do, do your work heartily for the Lord and they're playing for the audience of one, Jesus Christ. How do you do that when everything around you is telling you something differently? How do you do that when you're really becoming mature in Christ through intense study of God's Word?

Can't be done. If you and I or anyone of us out there who are Christians are not passionately, fervently studying, knowing, and meditating on God's Word on a regular basis as if we were eating food and that was our nutrition, we are never going to get it. We're going to be overcome by the idolatry of this world. I'm talking about Christians. I'm talking about I'm not talking about non-Christians right now. I'm talking about believers who are continually forfeiting eternal rewards because they're choosing a piece of this earth to kind of hunker down on and to gain their own glory and then wanting to put a stamp of God's approval on top as if God endorses that. And the Lord just does not endorse that. The Bible says in James 1a, a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. You can't chase both kingdoms at the same time. It's very clear that you must choose one kingdom or the other. And if you've already joined the kingdom through Christ, then really, if you're really going to maximize your opportunities and times, you've got to be Christ-centered in every realm. So, David, I would say that the parent needs to be studying the Word of God and reminding their children, as it says in Deuteronomy chapter 6, while they rise up, while they go to bed, as they are walking, and as they're sitting, you're reminding them of the principles of how God released his people from Egypt out of slavery and into the new life in the Promised Land. And I think today that is also the gospel message. And it's got to be activated even in the sports world.