Mat 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Mat 18:2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Mat 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Imagine, if you will, a dirty little boy running off the field crying and sobbing. His team has just lost the game very badly. The defeat was embarrassing. His mom asks, ‘Honey are you crying because you lost the game?’ He replies, “No ma’am, I just don’t want the game to be over.’
Winning is very important to so many of us that we have taken the fun right out of the game.
I am, now, one of the world’s worst at not wanting to play unless we keep score. For me, keeping score and knowing who wins seems to add an element of excitement that, in some way, makes it more fun.
But I was not always this way.
I can remember the dusty field with the sun beating down on me. I was playing shortstop and we were turning double plays. I was in the zone. Nothing was getting by me.
I was, in my mind, a superstar.
On that day, there was no opposing team – just a silver-headed man with a cigaret hanging out one side of his mouth hitting baseballs to a dirty little blond-headed boy. We were just practicing. There were no fans, no umpires, and no score board. The base runners were ghosts and we were getting them out.
That day was a great day because we were just playing the game.
I didn’t question that silver-haired coach or what he was telling me to do. I didn’t try and do it my own way. I had faith that what he was telling me would help me get better.
Who is in the lead around here?
Who has the most points right now?
How do I score more points?
Surely, someone is keeping score of our lives! Surely we know who the first, second, and third string are!
I do not wish to diminish all the hard work that people put into sports or their lives, but when it comes to the big picture, I think it is more important to be like a little child; winning or losing has no bearing on his love for the game.
How are you doing at life? Are you in the lead? What I mean is, are you getting it? Are you taking time to laugh? Is life fun at all?
Jesus, the giver of life, teaches the winner is the one who approaches life as a child.
Are you trusting Him to be your coach in life? Are you trusting that what He teaches will bring you greater joy and fulfillment in life?
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
