“All I know most surely about morality and obligation I owe to football”,
Humility
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:5
Jose Edmilson of Barcelona is a World Cup winner. When he was playing for Lyon in France the team conceded a bad goal, Edmilson told the press, "It was my fault". One journalist told him, "You are the first person I have heard tell the press that it was his mistake, most others blame the team or someone else".
Edmilson replied with a shrug, "It's just how I am. I got to where I am today because of this attitude. I expect a lot out of myself".
Being humble and not having an inflated opinion of ourselves is at the heart of the teaching of Jesus who, Paul wrote, "humbled himself and took the form of a servant".
Edmilson's journalist was right! There are a lot of egos in sport. Not many hold their hand up and say, "It was my fault". We are quick to justify ourselves and shift the blame.
Remember the idea of playing for the audience of one. God will see our humility and be pleased. In the long run too our colleagues and team-mates will respect our honesty and integrity.
And Peter gives us two promises. While God opposes the proud, the humble are promised God's grace and that they will be lifted up.