God's Coaching #121

God's Coaching #121

Pro athletes make millions of dollars. When you play professional sports, you’re loaded with cash, right? Not Troy Ready. He played professional soccer for free. Troy had wanted to be a soccer pro since he was five. He even had green carpet in his bedroom to look like grass. Troy was a soccer star at the University of Washington, and he played semipro for the Portland Timbers. His desire to play soccer was matched only by his desire to spread God’s love. So he and his young family moved to Tajikistan in 2009 to help people in one of the poorest nations in the world.

Troy went to one of Tajikistan’s top pro teams, FC Vakhsh, and volunteered to play. He didn’t mind that his permit to be in the country didn’t allow him to be paid. Troy just wanted to be part of the team and to connect with the people. Soccer was the perfect bridge. Troy couldn’t speak the language well, but he could play the game they all loved. He organized local soccer events for kids and got involved with some coaching, too. Bringing hope to people in Tajikistan was much more valuable to Troy than making lots of money.

What’s the Score?

Troy’s choices may seem crazy to some. They might say he gave up so much. But his life is what Jesus was talking about when he said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it” (Matthew 16:25). It might sound confusing, but it’s pretty simple. Jesus said we gain true life and real joy when we give everything to him.

Jesus wants nothing to be more important than him. That can be hard sometimes. We get hung up on our stuff. It’s okay to have an iPod or a Wii, but it’s not okay to love them more than we love God or other people. When we’re willing to give up everything for God, he fills us with a peace that’s much better than any possession. Ask him for help to have an attitude like Troy’s.

On the Ball

Bounce a soccer ball on your knee. Notice that it’s only when you bounce the ball away from yourself that it can come back. Our lives are kind of like that. When we give freely to others, God’s true plan for our lives can come back and fill us up. What can you use to give to others?

Coach’s Comment

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matthew 16:25