“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:19-21
College sports are at the top of mind for a lot of sports fans right now, particularly the world of college football. Conference realignment, coaching salaries and building facilities usually start and end with one influential group — booster clubs. Booster clubs are composed of individuals who align themselves with a program, and who commit time and resources to building a brand for the benefit of a community. Many times, these are good people who give resources to help programs provide a great experience for students; in rare cases, there are negative occurrences that get considerable press.
In a lot of ways, the Body of Christ is akin to a booster club for a college football program, albeit with a much higher calling. Believers are all tied to one cause (advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ), we all believe in one Head Coach to lead us to victory (God), we have a common opponent (Satan), and we want to recruit other people to help us support our Head Coach in His victory against this enemy.
So are we advancing the Kingdom of God with a greater fervor than we advance our favorite college football team? Are we advancing the Kingdom of God with the same fervor that we advance our favorite college team?
Boosters get involved in contributing funds to run college athletics, giving money and service to a variety of causes that help advance the program. The Body of Christ is no different, with Jesus commanding us in Matthew 6:19-21 to give freely to our local church and to those who are in need. This shows where our treasure truly is — in the Kingdom of God and in serving God. Numerous times throughout the Bible, believers are encouraged to be generous in our resources, giving to others in a way that authentically communicates the love of Jesus to both the lost and the found people we encounter each day.
When it comes to the game of life, there is only one side and cause to support — the side of Jesus Christ. God’s “Booster Club” will be on the winning side of the eternal game between God’s goodness and Satan’s evil. It is foretold and described in detail how we will win and why we will win. Our collective pursuits in support of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ matter to our team and our cause — advancing the Kingdom of God in this broken world, utilizing the Holy Spirit to overcome even our own brokenness in these attempts.
The greatest difference between sports and a life in Jesus can be described this way: In sports there is one winner and a bunch of losers; with Jesus, everyone wins when even just one more person accepts their brokenness and starts a relationship with Jesus Christ.
— Jon Oglesby
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