Trophy is no prize if not earned

As I watched the University of Alaska Anchorage ladies’ basketball team beat Santa Clara in the Great Alaska Shootout I thought of a verse in the Bible that says that everyone runs in a race, but only one person gets the prize.

The Seawolves were trailing the entire game, at times by as many as 15 points. As I sat there and watched the game unfold, I had already counted them out. Santa Clara is a bigger school; UAA only Division II. There was no way that we could make up that kind of deficit.

It’s a good thing that the coach or players couldn’t hear my thoughts. Without sounding like a cliché, UAA had already won the game mentally and at practice. The final score was a reflection of what they already knew themselves — that they are winners.

As soon as the game ended, I watched as five distinguished-looking people carried a table of trophies into the middle of the court. When they lifted up the largest trophy I noticed everything on the table was in the shape of a bowl. Although they were very nice bowls, it dawned on me that the value of the tournament does not lie in the trophy won. If I wanted a trophy all I would have to do would be go to the trophy store have it make up a trophy with my name on it. It wouldn’t be that hard. I could then place that trophy on my desk at work so everyone who walks by could think, “Wow, that guy must be great at sports.”

As stupid as that sounds, many teenagers and adults spend their lives trying to make people think they are victorious. Some go on diets. Some buy expensive cars they can’t afford. Sometimes they put up incredible Myspace pages so they can almost lead an entire double life on the Internet. My favorite is when people put a huge Bible in their living rooms to make people think they are spiritual, but the book is so dusty you start sneezing just from walking by it.

In I Corinthians 9:25, the Bible says, “All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.”

What is the prize? It is an eternity in Heaven with God. It is the most wonderful prize and something to be desired.

Like players on a team, we work together to get the prize, but instead of a four- or five-month season, as Christians we are on the team for the rest of our natural lives. The whole time we are running our race to get the prize. Not everyone is going to be the star player, but we all have our place. And, when we work on obtaining our prize by following Jesus and doing what the Bible says, we will get to share in the reward.

If we become Christians only for the sake of Heaven (the trophy) and not also for service to Jesus (the experience), then all we will end up with is an empty bowl. Without the experience to back up the bowl, we might as well set it on the table, put some Wheaties and milk in it and at least experience the breakfast of champions.

The reason every player on the UAA women’s basketball team celebrated their trophy is because they all went practice and were all a part of the team.

Even the players who never played a second in the game have earned just as many bragging rights as the star player because they were part of the experience that led to that point.

Play hard and play to win. Put Jesus first in your life. Go after the prize of Heaven, but don’t forget the experience. When you go to church or youth group, it’s like getting a pep talk from your coach. Then, when you’re at school with your friends, or even home by yourself, you can show God’s love to others. That’s putting into practice what you’ve learned and makes the prize much more meaningful.

Jesse Miller is the youth pastor at Family Christian Center in Palmer and can be contacted at silverhonda84@hotmail.com.