Ready:
“When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs. Don’t say to your neighbor, ‘Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow’—when it is there with you.” — Proverbes 3:27-28
Set:
When you have the opportunity to do something good for someone on your team—something that you could easily choose not to do—how do you respond? Are you tempted to look for a way to avoid having to expend the time and energy needed to do that good thing? Or do you joyfully embrace opportunities to do good for others?
In the Bible, to have wisdom is to understand how to apply God’s Word in everyday situations. The book of Proverbs is all about living wisely. According to Proverbs 3:27-28, it is wise to take action for the good of others rather than withholding this good. We’re specifically instructed to do good for “the one to whom it belongs.” In the context of Proverbs, this refers to those with a legitimate need.
Taking action for the good of others reflects what Jesus, our perfectly wise Lord and Savior, is like. Doing good doesn’t earn us the salvation that Christ offers. Tite 3:4-5 reminds us of this: “But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy…”. A few verses later, we’re urged to keep in mind what Jesus has done for us “so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works” (v. 8). We do good for others as a grateful response to the incredible good Jesus does for us.
Whether in the setting of our sport or in other areas, devoting ourselves to doing good requires overcoming internal resistance. Proverbs 3:28 addresses the temptation to say, “Come back later.” Maybe the opportunity to do good for someone feels inconvenient. Or if we’re honest, perhaps our resistance is really about self-centeredness: we want to invest that time and energy into ourselves rather than directing it toward doing good for someone else. Living wisely and well—living in the fullness of life that comes with living for Jesus—requires overcoming these barriers and generously helping others.
Wise competitors are good—that is, they don’t withhold good but joyfully act for the benefit of others. When you are devoted to doing good in the sphere of influence you have, you glorify God. As Jesus instructs us in Matthieu 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Go:
What can keep you from doing good things for teammates or those you coach?
How does what Jesus has done for you motivate you to act for others’ good, even when it feels inconvenient?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I praise You for Your goodness to me. Please forgive me for when I’ve withheld good from others rather than taking action. I pray that I would joyfully embrace opportunities to do good for those around me. Amen.”