Influence or Idol
What should my perspective be about sports?
Sports is what we do, not who we are.
At a young age, I learned that those who could hit a baseball, shoot a basketball or kick a football received a lot of notoriety. It’s normal and healthy for children to want to be noticed, accepted and admired, and sports fulfilled this desire in me during my formative years. I caught the “sports bug” early. Maybe a better way to say it is I lived for sports, and they gave me the admiration I craved.
Webster defines idol as “an object of extreme devotion” or “a representation of an object of worship.” Yikes… devotion and worship seem like words better reserved for church than a football field. But, when I was growing up, sports were my idol, and I’ve been fighting the temptation to make sports an idol ever since. The truth is that sports are wonderful competitive activities, but they make lousy gods.
The temptation of idolatry doesn’t end when we hang up our cleats, it can follow us into parenthood. My dad was so proud of my early athletic accomplishments, he had a beautiful cherrywood trophy case made to better display the proof of my boyhood sports successes. It was even sometimes referred to as the shrine! Don’t get me wrong: A lot of good things can come from a proud daddy’s expression of approval and having a display case made for his son’s trophies. But, there is also a real danger of placing too much emphasis— do I dare say devotion or worship—on activities that could possibly lead our children to misplace their identities or beliefs. Sports are tempting in that way. The life of the pro athlete seems so glamorous: a life of popularity, wealth and privilege. It seems to come with the sense of accomplishment, you play a game better than most in the world. Who wouldn’t want that life for their kids?
As a parent, you play a key role in helping your child develop a healthy perspective about competitive sports. Your child will follow your lead when it comes to determining whether sports is a healthy influence or a destructive idol that never fills the void reserved only for God.
Let’s see what the Bible says about the subject. Before you dive in, pause to ask God to show you how to prevent sports from becoming an idol in your family.
Bible Study
From the verses provided, find principles or lessons that will help sports not become an idol in your life.
In Notes, write some examples of how you can "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." Now, describe how it's possible to see God's Kingdom and righteousness while competing in sports.
Luke 16:13 ends with “You cannot serve both God and money.” Do you think it’s possible to serve both God and sports? Explain your answer.
Timothy 4:7-8 compares “training in godliness” with “training the body.” Your child is already training their body for their sport. What are some ways you can help your child “train in godliness?”
What is the one big idea or take-away from these Bible verses that you might apply to parenting your child?
Practice Session
Spend some time reflecting on the lesson you just completed, giving special focus on the Bible verses. Would you be willing to pray this prayer?
“Lord, I realize my child’s game is just that…a game. Please help me to keep his/her sports in the right perspective. Help me to fight the temptation to place more importance on their sports activities than I do their spiritual growth. Keep reminding me of the danger of his/her sports becoming an idol to me and to them. Help me to always keep Jesus the priority in everything. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen”
If you don’t understand how to make Jesus a priority in everything (or these Bible verses do not make sense), it could be because you’ve never yielded your life to His Lordship. You can ask your Huddle Leader to set an appointment to explain the Gospel using a tool called The FOUR.
The FOUR Worksheet
Worksheet
Spend some time reflecting on these personal questions:
Why do I get so angry when my child does not perform like I know they can?
Why is it so important to me that my child be a starter, the best on the team or make the all-star team?
Why is it so difficult for me to let the coach do the coaching?
When my child does not perform well, do I hurt for them or am I hurt by them?
Are my expectations for my child’s sports experience the same as theirs?
Answering these questions will help you identify idolatry and determine why or whether you have theright perspective about your child’s sports.
Pick one of your child’s teammates as they practice or play a game. Identify some positive attributes they displayed and affirm that teammate to your child or affirm them to their parents. Be prepared to discuss with your Huddle how this exercise increased your appreciation for your child’s team and/or how it might have relieved the pressure you feel toward your child’s performance.