This Week #22 (2-1-04)

The Super Bowl

There’s not much that gets more hype than the annual NFL Football game held to determine the World’s Champion football team. I’m never sure how we get “World” out of this contest between a couple of teams in the United States, but never-the-less it is a big deal for the teams, the cities (areas this year, with the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers) involved, and the advertisers.
 

I suppose millions of fans watch the game. The commercials are talked about for weeks following the game. And if your favorite team is playing and winning, you’ve got some bragging rights for a while. There are a few bucks spent as well. Can you imagine how much money changes hands in the process of getting this thing done?
 

For many of us, the only thing that gets us excited about a Super Bowl is if the Cowboys are playing. It’s been a while, and probably will be a while.
 

I think the real truth is, I’m jealous of the enthusiasm that this thing generates. It’s just a game, after all, and ultimately not all that important. The thing or things that are important often generate little or no enthusiasm. I don’t doubt that as a culture, or as a nation, or as a group of folks overly excited about a football game, that we have our priorities mixed up. That distressing news is that as the Church of Jesus Christ we are seemingly unable to generate much if any excitement because our priorities are out of order. We don’t see our relationship to God and to each other as a source of genuine enthusiasm, or to use the Biblical term, zeal. I covet for the Church the zeal I see for a sporting event. I long for His Church to have the kind of zealousness for Him and for one another that is so much a part of other things in our lives. I want my life to demonstrate a zeal for God and His people that generates real excitement and enthusiasm. I want my ardor for the things of God to be apparent in everything all the time. I want to be able to say with Jehu (2 Kings 10:16), “come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.”
 

There’s nothing wrong with getting excited about a football game. But, for Heaven’s sake, don’t let your enthusiasm for lesser things exceed your enthusiasm for the things of God.

© Weaver 2004