June 26
More Than a
Game
“So, my dear friends, run away from statues of gods. Don’t worship them.”
1 Corinthians 10:14 (NIrV)
Craig and Si were more than just basketball fans—they lived and breathed the game. Their team, the Firehawks, was everything to them. They had the jerseys, the posters, and a collection of signed memorabilia that could rival a sports museum. Every season, they spent thousands on tickets, travel, food, and hotel stays just to follow their team from city to city.
Their conversations revolved around stats, game strategies, and player trades. If the Firehawks won, it was the best day ever. If they lost, it was like a personal tragedy. Even their families knew better than to schedule anything on game nights because nothing could compete with basketball.
One evening, as they sat in their usual spot at a sports bar, their eyes glued to the massive screen, Craig suddenly sighed. “Man, I don’t even know why last week’s loss hit me so hard. I was in a mood for days.”
Si nodded. “Yeah, my wife was saying I need to chill out. But honestly, what else do we even look forward to?”
The question hung in the air. Craig stirred his drink, feeling a strange emptiness in his chest. What else?
Later that night, Craig’s wife, Emily, found him scrolling through highlight reels on his phone. She sat beside him and asked, “Do you ever think about how much time you give to this team?”
Craig frowned. “What do you mean?”
Emily hesitated before speaking. “I mean… you never miss a game, but you haven’t been to church in months. You can quote every player’s stats, but when was the last time you opened your Bible?”
Her words stung, but deep down, Craig knew she was right. He had let his love for basketball become the center of his world—his source of joy, his source of disappointment. It was as if his heart worshipped the game more than anything else.
That night, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. He whispered, “God, have I made basketball an idol? I don’t want anything to come before You. Help me put You first.”
The next day, Craig texted Si. “Man, we need to talk.” They met for coffee, and Craig shared what had been weighing on his heart. To his surprise, Si nodded. “I’ve been feeling the same way. It’s like… we’ve built our lives around this team, but at the end of the day, it’s just a game. Maybe we need to refocus.”
That Sunday, for the first time in years, Craig and Si sat in church together instead of at a stadium. It didn’t mean they stopped loving basketball, but they knew now where their true devotion should be.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for the things in life that bring us joy, but help us not to let them take Your place.
Forgive us when we prioritize entertainment, hobbies, or passions over our relationship with You.
Show us how to keep You at the center of our lives.
Help us to find our identity, not in the things of this world, but in You.
May our hearts worship only You, and may everything we enjoy in life be in its right place.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
