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"Football is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that."

Bill Shankly, Liverpool Football manager

Needing God

Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well Matthew 6:33

My friend Steve Connor tells the story of an event that was important in his journey to faith. He saw a performance by the world’s strongest man. The man then challenged the audience: “I am the strongest man in the world and I can’t do without Jesus for one second – how do you think you can?”

In the last year I have had the privilege of interviewing a number of the world’s top footballers for a video project. One question I like to ask is something like “You are successful, rich and famous, why do you still need Jesus?” I am always struck by how normal, human and vulnerable even the top stars are. This is the answer, Lucio, the Brazil captain gave me.

I believe this is a wrong idea many people have. I have personally heard people say many times “You are happy and joyful because you have money and you play for a big club, or for the National Team or because of good living conditions”. I think these are totally irrelevant and untrue. I believe that the fact I play for a great club, play on the Brazil team and have a wife and family who support me just shows me that I need God all the more - because of the demands of the club, the National Team, and the attention I need to give to my wife and children. I believe it is in these moments where we need God the most. I always tell people, including my wife and children, that we need to seek God first and He will take care of the rest. Today, if I only had football, fame, titles, but didn’t have my family and didn’t have God, I would not be happy. I believe that in order to be happy, you have to be right with God. You have to be searching after God and walking with Him”

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