WARM-UP
Cutting Corners
Lying and cheating to get ahead has been happening as long as competitive games and organized sports have been around—baseball players steal signs, long distance runners take shortcuts, weightlifters use performing enhancing drugs, basketball players tug on jerseys and the list goes on and on.
Sometimes the outcome can be minor and result in a “slap on the wrist.” Other times, cheating can lead to the loss of income, the stripping of achievements and public shame. Even worse, cheating or cutting corners can cause long-term physical, emotional, relational and even spiritual damage.
Q: What are some things athletes might do while pursuing their goals that are actually unhealthy, unethical or harmful to themselves or others?
Q: How would you feel if you achieved all of your goals but ended up causing trouble along the way?
WORKOUT
Looking for Love
For most, if not all of us, one of the key components to having a good life is experiencing love. We desire the many aspects of love—from our family, friends, or significant others.
Relational love can be found all throughout the Bible. But perhaps no story better captures the spirit of that pursuit and its potential downfall than the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman found in John 4:10.
In those times, Jewish people did not associate with Samaritans. Yet, Jesus sat next to a well when this Samaritan woman approached to get some water. Much to her surprise, Jesus asked her if she could get him a drink. Why would He do this?
Still struggling to understand, the woman had more questions to which Jesus replied:
That’s when things got really interesting.
“‘Please, sir,’ the woman said, ‘give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.’
‘Go and get your husband,’ Jesus told her.
Just like athletes who cut corners or employ an “at all costs” mentality, the Samaritan woman found herself jumping from one relationship to the next and making objectional choices in hopes of experiencing real love and real life.
Jesus understood exactly what was going on inside her heart. He knew that despite all of her attempts, she had never found the one thing that truly made her feel life. Jesus was there to show her that true life and true love could be found in a relationship with Him.
Q: The Samaritan woman was looking for fulfillment in life through relationships. In what ways can you relate?
Q: What do you think Jesus meant when He told her He would give her “living water?”
The Burning Question
In our last meeting, we talked about the importance of knowing what you are pursuing athletically and personally. Today, let’s talk about the deeper reasons behind that pursuit. After all, that is often the burning question that goes much deeper than the “what.” Answering “the why” is what this really comes down to.
Think back to the pursuits that we discussed in the last meeting.
Q: Review your list and look at the top three things that are driving your pursuits. Would you say those things are helpful or harmful to you in the long run?
Q: How do you think your life would change if you replaced those harmful motivators with ones that were positive, healthy and helpful?
Know the Why
If we are pursuing goals based on harmful motivations, then achieving those goals will never result in true fulfillment. Sure, there might be short-term value, but long-term, wrong motivations might be an indicator that we are simply trying to replace something much bigger that’s missing in our hearts.
Those negative “whys” are not from God, but instead are from an enemy that doesn’t want us to experience the fullness of life.
Satan wants us to be all wrapped up in guilt, shame, hurts, pain and pressures to perform in search of approval. He lures us with pleasures and desires that can only hurt us in the long run. And even when we have good pursuits, he uses lies and deceit to taint our motivations with selfishness, greed and pride.
Is it possible that a better life awaits us? Is it possible that there’s a better path that God has laid out for each and everyone? Is it possible that there is a greater purpose than what we currently live for in this very moment?
God’s Word answers that question with a resounding, Yes!
Changing our “what” is a big part of understanding what Jesus is talking about, but changing our “why” is the key to truly unlocking the door to that “rich and satisfying life.”
Q: Is it possible to have healthy goals but impure motives for reaching them? Explain.
Q: What do you think Jesus means when He talks about a “rich and satisfying life?”
Q: What would that look like for you personally?
WRAP-UP
Pursue Life
If you’re tired of being consumed with unhealthy motivations that drive you into meaningless pursuits, consider these three things that will help you pursue life— the rich and satisfying life that can be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ:
1. Open Your Heart. The first step in pursuing your new life in Christ is to be open to the possibility your motivations might be pushing you in the wrong direction.
2. Examine Your Heart. Be honest with yourself. Take a look deep inside your heart and ask yourself those questions that deal with motivation. What “whys” are driving the pursuit of your goals? More important, allow God to examine your heart so He can reveal to you what needs to change.
3. Surrender Your Heart. Give your pursuits and your motivations to Jesus. Ask Him to give you new pursuits, and if your pursuits are right and good, ask Him to give you pure motives for achieving those things.
As you get rid of the impure motives and replace them with healthy, life-affirming desires, you’ll find yourself living out the truth in our camp theme verse:
OVERTIME
Find a quiet place alone or with another person you can trust, and discuss those reasons behind your most passionate pursuits. Come up with a plan that will help you better understand the “why” and how to surrender those passions to Christ every day.