I’m convinced God created American football primarily as a business training tool. As we watch bowl games and playoffs, it means the season has reached the final exam segment of this year’s course.
The college bowl games made news this season for the many blowouts; one team dominating another. Two teams scheduled to compete but the game too often was no contest. All of the teams are strong, fast, prepared, coached, have proven records and are seemingly ready to compete when the game starts… but… thud.
While there are many factors that work toward the final outcome of a given game, there was a common thread evident in many of the contests, or lack there of. What?
The winning teams were mentally ready to win that day. The winners were focused; the losers distracted. The winners came to win; the losers came to participate. You could see the winning teams took the field with a purpose that was inspired.
So, how do I think God cares about any of this?
How Does God Care About Football?
I’m not talking about the scoreboard. I’m pointing out the hard impact that inspiration has on accomplishing our objectives. Whether a football game, personal relationships, or work, our strength or weakness of accomplishment is greatly affected by our inspiration. Our inspiration is often that special ingredient that drives our accomplishment in the face of challenge… everyday challenge.
Plenty of Scripture reference to committing to our work:
“If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ…” – 1 Peter 4:11
“One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys… “ – Proverbs 18:9
What Does It Have to do with Business?
You have set your mind to compete in business. You face your competition everyday and presumably you are here to compete. Right? In a service business, do you intend to delight your customers or leave them feeling… “meh?”
Do everything as for the glory of God! Find your inspiration and take it to work with you every day. You face competitors and serve new customers every day, so are you getting blown out or are you walking on the balls of your feet with a spring in your step toward the next challenge? It’s a not-so-subtle attitude easy to see in a college football game, but also easy to neglect in our own work.
My take away this football bowl season is: When the day is over, I’d rather have gone to work inspired to be at work, and with the intent to win against my competitors and win my clients’ satisfaction. Accomplishing the objective and competing, well, just looked like more fun.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” – Colossians 3:23
AWESOME!