Former Charlotte 49ers defensive line coach, Aaron Curry, started his career as an NFL linebacker with a decision to make: Whose approval would he seek? With expectations being thrown at him from all directions, he found that he couldn’t allow these expectations to distract him from the life God was calling him to.

“The problem comes when we allow the expectations of the crowd to overshadow our love for God,” Curry said to Sports Spectrum.

Curry had grown up playing football, quickly becoming accustomed to enjoying the approval of the crowd after a good performance on the field. But as his audience widened, he found that he couldn’t base his worth in people’s approval. He sought a freedom from this mindset.

Galatians 1:10 offered him a path that would base his work in something greater that his athletic performance.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” 

Through Curry is no longer playing in the NFL, he knows his worth is found only in the love and grace of God. He now is able to share this message with his players and fans.

As coaches, who are you trying to impress? Is it the fans? Your athletic director? The alumni? Our goal as coaches is to reflect the image of Christ in how we lead our team and teach the players that God has given to us.

Let us coach today with the mindset of pleasing Him. Our best is enough for the King of the Universe!

– Aaron Curry is a former defensive line coach at Charlotte 49ers and a five-year NFL veteran. Here he talks about developing men through the game of football.

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