In professional football, the week leading up to the Superbowl is known as media week. It is the week where every media outlet gets to ask every player from the two teams every question imaginable. The players, inundated with these questions, often resort to cliches to get through them all.
There are two teams with one goal: to win the Superbowl. Defeat the other team and be declared the best team in football, the champions, number one. Both teams have come along way to reach the Superbowl, overcome obstacles, defeated worthy opponents; but only one can win the game. It will take the ultimate effort, giving 110%, going full tilt – full time, playing the full 60 minutes, never quitting, reaching down deep, playing with heart, giving your best, and whatever other cliches come to mind. But these cliches are not just to please the media. As cheesy as they may sound, they help the players focus on the goal, keep their eye on the prize. They want to give everything they can, do whatever it takes to win that trophy.
Imagine what the world would be like if Christians took the same approach to our lives? My pastor recently spoke on Genesis 4. He talked about Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. One was a farmer, the other a shepherd. They each brought a sacrifice before God.
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. — Genesis 4:3-5
What was the difference in the two offerings? Did God just prefer meat? No. God didn’t measure the offering, he measured the heart. Cain’s offering was ordinary, just “some” of the fruits. But Abel gave the best of the best, the choicest portions from the first born, and that is why God looked with favor on him.
Jesus judged hearts the same way.
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” — Mark 12: 41-44
Jesus didn’t measure how much was given, he measured the heart of the giver. This poor woman gave her all, everything she had.
The apostle Paul also talked about giving our best.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” — I Corinthians 9:24
I know that many times in my life, I do what I can, but not my best. When I was young, my father always insisted on dressing up for church. I didn’t understand why at the time, but now I do.
My dad was a career army officer, and in the military, how you look is important. Not that it makes you better than others, because everyone wears a uniform so everyone looks the same. But soldiers are taught to take pride in their appearance, because it makes a statement about who they are. A soldier that takes care to look his best, pays attention to the details. If they can do that with their appearance, they can do the same with their job.
So my father insisted on looking our best on Sundays, not to impress other people, but to give our best to God.
In my Christian life, it is easy to settle for middle of the road. But I need to strive to be the best I can be, for Jesus’ sake. He gave His all for me, I should give my all for Him.
