A new formula for self worth
The collegiate athlete recruiting process has evolved greatly over the years.
Not to long ago (10-15yrs ago) coaches would call friends in the high school ranks, seek out local newspapers for stories on the top athletes in the county, go on the road, meet with aspiring high school athletes and offer them a scholarship. It was a crazy process but it was pretty straight forward.
Now, not only has the recruiting game changed but the entire landscape of college athletics has morphed into a machine that shows no signs of slowing down. It seems athletes are no longer striving to put their athletic talents on display, but make sure the entire world sees them and validates who they are, what schools they are talking to and where they will play next. Its normalized for an athlete to tweet out, “I am blessed to receive my 13th offer from _____ University”.
Being excited about the recruiting process and your future is completely normal and any athlete that has the opportunity to play at the next level should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments, but there is a danger for athletes in all of this and my fear is that Christian athletes are just as susceptible to take the subtle bait of the enemy in all of this. The problem isn’t being excited about your athletic career moving on to the next level. The issue is letting what others think about you determine your self-worth and identity.
When I was in high school looking to play at the next level I allowed the opinions of coaches an others dictate how I felt about myself and who I really was. As a college football player at Colorado State University I met Jesus through Athletes in Action and was introduced to the teachings of Jesus. I vividly remember a camp where I heard a story that resonates perfectly with athletes that find their worth in the opinions of others.
In Luke 15 Jesus tells the story of 2 sons. One (the younger son) tells his father that he wants his share of the inheritance so he can go to a faraway place and engage in “wild living” (NIV). At this time in his life he could do what his heart wanted and was completely driven by worldly desires. Later on in the story we hear Jesus telling us that he literally squandered his part of the family fortune on momentary pleasures. And soon after all this, a famine broke out and the land became desolate. This one proud son who could conquer anything he wanted quickly found himself in need. Athletes must understand this principle; The things you think will give you life will ultimately let you down if they are not rooted in God’s Truth. We are all driven by something and this younger son was driven by worldly pleasures that eventually fade. Athletes must realize that one day, the crowd wont cheer, the media won’t celebrate you, coaches will move on and people will not be interested in your social media posts.
He comes to his senses and remembers that although his father’s hired servants work long hours outside, they have enough food to eat and have their basic needs met. With shame covering him like a blanket he decides to go back to his father and ask to work in the fields.
The hearers of Jesus’ parable expected Jesus to tell them that when the son got back the father punished him severely for bringing such disgrace to the family name, but they must of been astonished at what Jesus said next.
Jesus continued. As the son came over the horizon the waiting father got up and ran to his son to greet him. Instead of punishing him for what he had done, the father embraces him, kisses him, reinstates his position as his son, and planned a celebration to commemorate the return of his son. All seems right, however there is another son. Instead of being elated that his younger brother is home safe the older son contends with his father insisting his younger brother be punished instead of embraced. Jealousy rages within him and he pleads his case before his father recalling all the things he had done and how well he obeyed his father’s wishes and never strayed from the path of righteousness.
The things you think will give you life will ultimately let you down if they are not rooted in God’s Truth.
What we often miss is that the older brother was also motivated by something, if the younger son was motivated by a life of performance. He felt that he could earn his father’s love by how well he obeyed.
What Jesus was emphasizing is both sons were lost. One was motivated by worldly pleasures (Younger son) the other was motivated by a life of performance (Older Brother). Both missed the heart of their earthly father. The father’s heart was motivated by relationships with his sons.
Athlete. Your heavenly Father is the same. His desire is that your worth would not come from what people say, think, tweet or write about you. His desire is that you would rest knowing you belong to Him and he would go to any length (he already has) to have you. He wants you to know that you cannot do anything else to have him love you more, his love for you is constant and consistent and is based on his character, not our goodness or badness.
The Kingdom and the World have 2 different formulas for self-worth
World’s Formula for Self-Worth
Your Performance + Other People’s Opinions = Self Worth
God’s formula for Self-Worth
What God declares is true about you
Athlete.
Let’s not get caught up in the identity game. Let’s remember who we are and whose we are and allow our motivation, sport and life be rooted in this truth.