If you are a regular reader of this blog, attend Westlake Baptist, or know me personally; then you are aware that I am a sports fan. It comes from being raised in a sport’s house and playing sports for the majority of my life. I see so many parallels between sports and the Christian life, especially Christian leadership. While I don’t watch a lot of basketball, I did like many millions of people tune in for at least a little bit of the NBA Finals Game 1 last week. At the end of regulation time (the end of the 4th quarter), a very bizarre play transpired. A player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, JR Smith, got a rebound in front of his own basket with the score tired and only 4.7 seconds left. Instead of shooting the ball quickly, taking one dribble and shooting, or calling a timeout; Mr. Smith dribbled the ball up towards half court. The result was a desperate attempt to throw the ball up by a teammate that had no chance of going in, therefore, sending the game into overtime. It was absolutely a gaffe by Mr. Smith. Of course the tv cameras caught Mr. Smith’s teammate, Lebron James’ reaction. James’ expression and hand gesture instantly made its way onto social media in the form of many memes. Since then there have been many other things said and done in making fun of JR Smith and his blunder that very possibly cost his team a win in Game 1. I say all of this to say, none of this is really the point. The point is how JR Smith was treated by people. Did he mess up? Absolutely he did. He has since then, somewhat admitted to it. Was Lebron’s reaction funny in a still photo? Yea, I have to admit it really was. Did at least 70 million viewers around the world see the play? Unfortunately for JR Smith, yes they did. Did JR Smith deserve everything he had said, wrote, and printed about him? Absolutely not!
You see behind those jokes, memes, articles, and segments on talk radio is a person, JR Smith. Anyone who has ever played a sport, if they are being honest, as at one time or another messed up. But even if you haven’t played a sport, have you ever done something goofy or what others might call dumb? Sure we have. At times I think, if doing something less than intelligent was a college degree program, I would have my doctorate degree ten times over by now. For what it’s worth, JR Smith has handled himself well in the face of all of this. He hasn’t shied away from the cameras or media interviews. And let’s be honest, it would have been real easy to want to have disappeared after that, and especially after Cleveland lost Game 2 a couple nights later. But what if your momentary, cranial flatulence was caught on live tv, and see by 70 million plus people? What if when you woke up the next day, your social media feed was full of memes with your picture or your teammates picture making fun of you? May we all remember Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt. 5:7).
Let’s remember that there is a person who is the backside of these jokes. A person with feelings. A person who was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). A person loved by God, died for by God, and a person God desires to save and have a relationship with. We don’t become bigger people by putting others down. Let us remember the words of that great theologian, Thumper’s mom (from Bambi in case you missed the reference), “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” How different would I world be if instead of beating up on those who mess up, we found ways to encourage one another? As a Christian, this is the way the Lord Jesus told us to be, and there can never be an excuse to do otherwise.
Today’s Challenge: Find someone to encourage today, and take the time to encourage them.
Pastor Justin