When You Love The Game ⚡
Faith | Purpose | Authenticity | Spiritual Growth | Love
Power Thought: The difference between loving God and loving what God can get you shows up in how you move when you've already been blessed.
Excuse Me For Flexing But... 💫 I used to train NBA Legend Chauncey Billups - after he retired. While that might seem backward, having a trainer after retiring from the NBA, it actually proves everything about what makes Chauncey different. Even with nothing left to gain, no more contracts to earn, championships already won, he was still in the gym, working on his game.
OG Wisdom 🔥 Chauncey dropped this on me: "Most don't love the game (basketball), they just love what the game gets them."
He broke it down like this - when you love the game, you love working on your game, no matter what. When things are bad, still, you work on your game out of the love you have. Same when things are great, still you live in the gym working because it's what you love.
The Truth About Love 💯 While that's the case, when you love what the game gets you, your work is conditional. Once you get what you what you truly love - money, fame, lifestyle then you abandon your work. Because of this, once some players get a max NBA contract, or a hefty NIL bag in college, they abandon their grind. As a result, they go from standout superstar to basic bench warmer real quick.
Let's Keep It A Buck 👑 What Chauncey says about hoopers can be said about many as it relates to their relationship with God - many love what God gets them more than they love God Himself.
The Heart Check ❤️ What about you, do you truly love God? Before you answer consider these three verses:
Proverbs 2:2 TPT - "So train your heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment— then pass it on to your sons and daughters."
Romans 12:2 TPT - "Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes."
1 Timothy 4:6-10 MSG - "Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart."
The Game Plan 🏀 We ought to strive to be the same type of Christians that Chauncey is as a hooper. Chauncey, a NBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer, proves his love for the game even after retirement. Because of His love, he continually trained and remained in shape and was equipped with his elite skills.
If you're the same kind of Christian, even after God blesses you beyond measure and you get the business popping, acquire the new property, and marry your dream person, you too will continually train and work on your "spiritual" game - read the Bible, pray diligently - walk with God through life.
By living life in such a way you will remain spiritually fit, which will allow strengthen your heart continually to develop the wisdom needed to satisfy God with how you move.
Real Talk Reflection 💭
What's your spiritual workout routine looking like?
Are you still grinding after the blessing like Chauncey after retirement?
How do you love on God when nothing's going your way?
What would people say you love more - God or what God can get you?
Are you training your heart daily or just showing up for game day?
Power Move Prayer 🙏🏾 Lord, change our hearts. Transform us from being transactional with You, where we use You for what we can get, and instead allow us to move like a spiritual hall of famer that values our relationship with You above everything and has a heart for You no matter the circumstances.