It IS whether you win or lose, but it’s also how you play the game. In the game of football, the offense scores points, of course, by moving the ball down the field and crossing into the end zone. But they have to play by the rules. Those guys wearing the black and white striped shirts are there to make sure they do.
One of the penalties that has never made a lot of sense to me is holding. It’s acceptable for an offensive player to knock his opponent onto his back, leveling such a blow as to leave him jarred or even unconscious when he hits the ground. However, a penalty will be called if instead he grabs the shirt of his opponent to keep him from tackling the quarterback. Personally, I would much prefer to have someone hold onto me that knock me flat, but that’s one of many reasons why I’m a spectator and not a participant.
Whether holding makes sense to me or anyone else, it’s the rule. And even though it’s just the one player who is guilty, the entire team suffers the consequences Countless turnovers have occurred, third downs left unconverted, and touchdowns called back all because an overenthusiastic lineman resorted to holding to protect his quarterback. How you play the game matters and it affects all those around you, too.
Like the game of football, how we play the game also matters when it comes to obeying God. Scripture abounds with examples of doing things God’s way. One great demonstration of the “holding” foul is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua, chapters six and seven. God gave a strange command to the Israelites for capturing the fortified city of Jericho (marching around the wall for seven days and all that. Check out the passage for the full story.)
After giving them the victory, God’s instructions for the booty was very clear in Joshua 6:19: “All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.”
Reading through the remainder of Chapter 6 it appears that all is well and that the people carry out God’s instructions play by play. Then the deception is revealed in Joshua 7:1 – “But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.”
None of the Israelites knew of the deception. It does not come to light until they fail miserably when trying to take on the next city. Then God reveals His displeasure. Achan is guilty of holding, and by association the whole Israelite team is guilty of holding. One man’s actions brought consequences to an entire community.
As a parent, a spouse, an employee, a friend, a child, a sibling, a church member, a committee member—whatever hat you wear in the course of a day – your fouls affect not only you, but the others on your team. We don’t have to understand or agree with God’s rules, but we are called to obey them. Like those black and white shirts worn by the referees, the Bible makes God’s standards very clear. We introduce the gray areas when we rationalize, justify, and compromise on the rules. Consider these life examples of holding fouls:
1. Hold onto your money.
Have you experienced the freedom of being released from the stronghold of money? Money is neutral—neither good nor bad. It can be used for either. Are you holding onto money, refusing to use it for good? The Bible challenges us to tithe – give 10% to our local church. 10% sounds like a whole bunch when it comes to writing a check, but none of us get too excited when Kohls advertises 10% off. It’s all about perspective. Have you considered this mandate also covers such things as:
a. Telling the truth on our tax returns
b. Refusing to use an expired coupon.
c. Accounting for every penny on the expense account
2. Hold onto your time.
We find it so easy to “Just say no” when the church nursery needs someone to rock babies, the youth soccer team needs an assistant coach or the nursing home is asking for surrogate grandchildren. The Bible nails us, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another…” Romans 13:8
3. Hold onto your words.
Saying what needs to be said can be the greatest challenge of all. It requires humility and personal responsibility. Are you holding out today by:
a. Refusing to say, “I’m sorry”
b. Refusing to say, “I love you”
c. Refusing to discipline a child
4. Hold onto your anger – Who does God want you to forgive?
5. Hold onto your criticism – To whom does God want you to extend grace?
The way to avoid holding is simply to let go. As we let go of our time, our money, our words, anger, criticism and whatever else we have clinched so tightly, I believe we will individually and corporately experience real victory –a life lived successfully is one lived for HIM and by HIS rules. Now that’s something to hold onto.
Photo attribution: https://secure.wireimage.com/ItemListings.aspx?so=1,a&igi=214407
Copyright 2011 Laura Macfarlan
1 Response to On the Field Plays Off the Field #4 – It’s Also How You Play the Game