Sports and the Lure of Big Money

There is no question that money (and I mean BIG money) has become a major part of the sports world. Money has become one of the primary lures for young athletes all across the world and they are biting. With multi-million dollar contracts, signing bonuses, and endorsements, professional athletes become millionaires overnight.

As Christians, how do we view the topic of money in sports? Certainly, the Scriptures do not treat money in itself as an evil or sinful thing. The key for every athlete (professional or wannabe) is to determine which “master” you will serve. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus explains it very clearly saying, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” The question is not “how much money you make”, rather “who or what you are serving”.

An important memory verse that the Lord always brings to mind when I begin to see greed, envy, and the love of money in my own life comes from Proverbs 11:4. It says, “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” It doesn’t matter if you are Alex Rodriguez, David Beckham, or Tiger Woods, your money will not be worth anything when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Hebrews 9:27). 300 million dollars will not save anyone. The only “riches” that will matter will be the imputed righteousness of Christ. His perfect righteousness is the only way you or I can be delivered from certain eternal death.

So, the Lord may indeed call you to professional sports and to a multi-million dollar contract, but always keep in mind which “master” you intend to serve. Money can be a shiny, pleasurable, and appealing lure to bite, but Jesus Christ is the “radiance of God’s glory”(Hebrews 1:3). Nothing is more beautiful or worthy than Him.

Josh Reynolds
Central-Northeast Nebraska FCA