"Lord, I don't ask that I should win, but please, please don't let me finish behind Akabusi."
Image of God
Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. Genesis 1:26
Have you ever wondered why God in the Ten Commandments was so strict in forbidding his people from creating any images of God (Exodus 20:4)? It is simply because Genesis 1:26 has taught us that there is already an image of God in the world - you and me! The second commandment in Exodus 20 forbids creating any kind of object, for example a statue, picture or building and making it the place where we go to please God.
Pleasing God our creator cannot be restricted to a time or place when we stand before a statue, or an hour when we enter a certain building. Made in God's image, we are to rule on his behalf in all of his creation all of the time - 24/7. This means everywhere we go and covers every single second of time. This includes the training ground, changing room, playing field and the post match celebration or commiserations!
As we as Christian players recognize that our ability to play sport is a gift from God, we will more and more want to use those talents to please him - simply because of who he is, the creator and Lord of the universe and the God who loves so much. We will want to offer our talents and abilities as an act of worship. That means that we will still be giving 100% to the end even if the game is already lost. We need never be ashamed of being competitive and wanting to do our best provided that our motivation is to please and honour him rather than for our own praise.
What does it look like to please God? Genesis chapter two pinpoints two very specific principles, which must be applied to our sport. The first is how we use our talents; the second is how we use our relationships.
Another way of expressing this dual aspect of being God's representatives on earth in our talents and our relationships is Jesus' summary of the Ten Commandments in the 'Golden Rule', where Jesus tells his followers the two great commandments. He said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39).
I am made in the image of God. I am his representative in the football club, on the field, at training, on the bench, in the mini-bus, everywhere.
Is there a danger of sport becoming an idol for us? How do we keep sport in perspective?