As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. – Proverbs 27:17
The younger demographic puts a high value on independence. We believe everyone should solve their own problems, and asking for help is usually seen as a sign of weakness. We see this as an athlete, dancer, or performer steps onto the field or stage to perform amazing feats all on their own. But oddly enough, when you just take a moment to listen to their stories however or look behind the curtain, you’ll realize this is far from true. Even though they may stand out as an individual, they have had a vast number of people surrounding and walking on the journey with them!
Kids have had coaches to train them, teammates to encourage them, and families to support them throughout their journey. Regardless of what they participate in, nearly all of them will tell you that they could never have gotten this far on their own. The same rules apply to Christians. We need each other for leadership, fellowship, and inspiration. Alone we can do very little, but together, we have the ability to become so much more!
We Will Fail
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity. – Proverbs 24:16
As I sit and watch the 2022 Beijing Olympics, it’s hard to see that even the best athletes don’t always win. There is always someone else working harder or you may just have a bad day. No matter how good you are, nobody wins every time. It’s a hard lesson many Christians still struggle to accept.
There’s an old saying, “God expects more failure from you than you expect from yourself.” I know you are probably thinking that God only wants you to win! But, There is going to come a day when you fail as a Christian. When that day comes, what’s important is that you accept your mistake and learn from it. These Olympic athletes remember their faults and use them to get better, so they can come back stronger. As Christians we will fall, and need to get back up and keep pushing forward.
I watched as Chloe Kim crushed her snowboarding run with a 94 on her first run. What an amazing run that vaulted her to GOLD! Her next two runs were wipe-outs but it didn’t matter because her score was solid on her first go! What really touched me was the video that they played of her that featured clips of her as a child and seeing her family helping her along the way. What a touching video! You can watch it here: https://people.com/sports/beijing-olympics-chloe-kim-new-film-love-letter-to-family/
Gold is Great and Winning Isn’t Everything
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33
Sure, we all want the gold! But more importantly, it is ultimately how we finish the race. Were we honest, good, true, and faithful? What is the legacy that we want to leave? How will people remember us? Will they see us as someone that showed compassion to others, that gave to someone that needed it, gave grace to the undeserving? The good Lord looks at our heart, sees the person that we truly are, and loves us unconditionally. To Him, you already won the gold!
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