Ball Like Paul: Finding Your Eternal Drive
In my prayer journal, I wrote a reminder from God. That reminder was, “If I do godly things in ungodly ways, with ungodly motives and ungodly expectations, does that glorify, please, and magnify God?
The answer is, of course not! Since that’s the case, if our hard work does not help those in need, then, while our hard work may acquire worldly wealth, status, and accolades, we have no choice but to accept the agreement that it does not glorify, please, and magnify God.
One of the mantras that God has led me to live by and remain mindful of is to be more assignment-driven than I am job-focused. What I mean by that is, within every job we have here on Earth, God has a heavenly assignment for us within that job. And if we dominate the job and abandon the assignment, we have failed to fulfill our calling.
Now, let’s apply all of that to this passage. Paul acknowledges that he was, and still is, a trusted example of what it means to fulfill God’s assignment. Similar to us athletes and coaches who compete at a high level, Paul was a grinder who worked hard.
While Paul worked hard, he had a heavenly standard for his hard work that most today are void of. His hard work was done on behalf of the weak who were in need. Paul’s standard was, if my hard work and talent do not help others, then it’s all for naught.
What about you? I know you are a grinder who works hard, but what for? Is it for the money, respect of others, fame, and status? While there’s nothing wrong with acquiring those things, if we are to be like Paul, those things cannot be the motive behind our grind. Peep what he says, “as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion.”
Based on that, if Paul were a hooper who was good enough to make millions of dollars, win championships, secure endorsements, and be a social media influencer, he’d say, “I don’t grind for the money, or the Louis. I do it to serve others.” Paul would use his athletic platform to speak life into others, pay for the travel for young players who could not afford to play, go to local gyms, and teach up-and-coming players elite skills. If he were a coach, he would host free coaching clinics for young coaches and make time to mentor them.
Since Paul is not an athlete or a coach, maybe we should be the Pauls of our teams and communities. What do you think?
Acts 20:35 - New Living Translation - 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:33-35 - The Message - 33-35 “I’ve never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’”
NIV - 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - New Living Translation - Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
Romans 12:2 - New Living Translation - Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 15:1-2 - The Message - Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”