Yesterday we started to look at some lessons from the national title game in college football to see some truths that can help us grow in our walk with God, but also help Christian leaders grow in their leadership. If you missed it, you can read it here: http://www.westlakebaptist.org/blog/lessons-from-the…ship-game-part-1/
Today we are going to look at the final two points.
- Be flexible (Prov. 16:9). Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.” As I watched the national title game it truly was a tale of two halves. Alabama had a plan. It had been the plan they used all year and it got them to the most important game of the year. Rely on your strong, fast defense, and have an offense that does just enough to win the game while avoiding any big mistakes. However, it was clear at halftime that the plan wasn’t going to work in this game. How it all transpired is known only to the coaches and the players in the Alabama locker room. But a new QB was put in to start the 3rd quarter, and suddenly Alabama came to life. As James 4 tells us we shouldn’t say what we are going to do today, tomorrow, or a year from now, because we don’t know what will happen in that time. Instead we should say in our heart that if this is God’s will, then we will do this or that. We always need to leave room in our lives for God to be God. And since He is the One who has the right plan for our lives, we always want to consult Him before we make plans. To be so rigid in making our plans without praying and reading God’s Word to know His will for our lives is arrogant and sinful. Nick Saban could have stayed with his QB who was 15-2 as a starter at Alabama. He could have stuck with the system that got him to the national championship game. And if he did, most likely we would be talking about the Georgia Bulldogs winning their first national championship in 20 years. Do I think Nick Saban prayed in the locker room asking for God’s wisdom? No I don’t, I don’t even know Coach Saban. But I did see that Coach Saban knew his objective, saw his plan wasn’t working, and was willing to call an audible. And I can see that it resulted in him winning his sixth national title, tying the legendary coach Bear Bryant. When you are confident in who you are, when you know what your objective is, then you can be willing to scrap your plan for something better. Which leads to the final lesson learned from the national championship game.
- Know your people (1 Cor. 12:12-26). No one outside of the Alabama football program knew who Tua Tagovailoa was until the third quarter of the biggest college football game of the year. This was a freshman who hadn’t taken any real meaningful snaps all year. This time last year he was in high school! What we did know is that he was on Coach Nick Saban’s, Alabama Crimson Tide, and so he was probably a pretty good football player. The Alabama coaching staff knew this kid, they watched him in practice day in and day out for the past several months. They knew that he could provide a spark for the team. It is so vital for leaders to know their people. To know their strengths and their weaknesses. To know them as a person. We see in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul talking about how the body of Christ is made up of many parts. In verse 24 Paul reminds us, “God has put the body together.” He has brought each person to the church and He has placed them right where He wants them. He has gifted them in such a way as to strengthen His body at that local church. But if the leaders don’t spend time with their people, how will they know who God has placed in the church? If the leaders of the church don’t spend time with their people, how will their people know that the leaders live a life that is worth emulating? If we as leaders are to say as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me as I follow Christ”, then we must make sure that we are with our people, and allow them to see our life to prove that we are following Christ.
Learning to walk with God is a lifelong process. The simple truth is the more we rely on God, the more we become transformed by God. Christian leadership is the same. True Christian leaders are not born, they are made by God. Hopefully something over the last couple of days challenged you. If so, we would love to hear from you about it.
Pastor Justin
What great parallels drawn between one of the biggest annual sporting events and ones walk with God. This really makes me think about what is truly important and how much I do, or do not, focus on Christ, what He has done for me and what I need to be doing for Him. I have learned a walk with Christ is not easily done alone, being part of a “team” is very important. I love Hebrews 10:25, and the analogy of a coal separated from the fire does not burn long, but when returned, it glows again.
One more comment on a parallel to sports. We get so excited about the big game. The tail gating parties, cheering, “high-fiving” over a team, a big play, and a great win. What if we got that excited about a sermon, a song, a blessing from heaven? How about a repentant sinner? Luke 15:10 tells us the angels rejoice over one sinner who repents. Wonder if they high-five and cheer like we do at a football game? That question is on my “Glory Land List”
You are so correct on your points. When it comes to our walk with God, we have to be intentional and diligent about it. It isn’t something that will just naturally take care of itself. That is also why we see Scripture use the illustration of marriage so much as well. A good marriage is one in which both parties see themselves as servants of one another, and they are willing to put in the time, energy, and effort it takes for the marriage to be godly and successful.
As a former athlete and even now sometimes a coach, I have often wondered why we get more excited at a game than we do during worship. I get it, games are exciting and it is easy to get caught up with the crowd. But God is worth so much more and has done so much more for us than any game every did for me.
Your last comment about being excited about a repentant sinner really strikes home for me. I have said many times at church that I truly believe we need to learn to celebrate the victories more. We need to praise God for what He has done and what He is doing, and we need to be unashamed about it.