Lesson 72. Love Does Not Compete

Elite sports have always attracted humanity’s attention. In recent times, they have been elevated to the highest political level, creating the impression that the well-being of nations depends upon the number of gold medals and other awards their representatives receive at international games.

It is evident that soccer in Europe has become a kind of religion. Its active supporters call themselves fans.

According to statistics, Germany, where I live, has the largest national soccer club in the world. Every village has its own stadium and soccer team. When international championships take place, the whole country holds its breath in anticipation of the battle. Every conversation is about soccer, and everything around is covered with soccer symbols and national flags. The people live in expectation of their favorite national team’s victory, and if it happens, public celebrations begin. Everywhere, the shouts of drunken fans, gunfire, and the honking of cars can be heard until late at night. I think this phenomenon exists in more than this country alone.

Some sports possess a magical attraction that draws the attention of millions of people. These include soccer, hockey, boxing, Formula One racing, basketball, and automobile rallies. It seems that the fans of these sports fall under mass hypnosis and live only with the dream of their fellow citizens’ victory.

The fastest way to become famous, respected, and widely recognized is to achieve success in sports. Your records, victories, and gold medals will attract the attention of the whole country, while recognition and applause will raise you to a pedestal of honor. Pride in your success will become the possession of all the citizens and give them a reason to speak about you throughout the media.

But what does the athlete himself feel? He understands that he has truly achieved something. And the higher the status of the competition, the greater his awareness of his own importance. The essence of every contest comes down to one thing: to be better, to be stronger, to be the winner. Once such a goal is set, long periods of training begin. Every outstanding athlete has his own army of supporters who exalt his achievements and “carry him upon the hands” of their applause.

The athlete understands that he is someone of importance. The longer he remains upon the pedestal, the more attention he attracts and the more valuable he becomes. People are ready to pay him large sums to appear on programs, attend parties, give interviews, and have his picture displayed on advertising posters. Almost everyone who meets and recognizes him wants his autograph and personal photograph. Yet not every athlete reaches such heights. On the way to the pedestal, many are injured, die, suffer breakdowns, become alcoholics, fall ill, or simply cannot withstand the enormous strain. We do not know their names because they dropped out of the race.

Sport has one distinctive feature. You may be one of the best, but the strongest wins. And all your training loses its meaning if you do not win the competition. People lose interest in you. You are a failure, even though you physically surpass many others. And if you become disabled, you are filed away in the archives and very quickly forgotten as people search for other winners.

What is the meaning of all this? And what spirit drives the athletes and their fans? Clearly, it is not God’s Spirit.

Physical activity is one of the factors and components of health. Without it, the body becomes weak, blood flows slowly through the vessels, and the body loses its immunity to disease; then illness may be expected. There is life in movement. But sport carries another philosophy within it—the philosophy of competition. When a net is stretched between us or we are divided into teams, the spirit of rivalry comes into force. According to biblical principles, you should give the victory to your opponent and help him reach his goal. You should rejoice in his success. But in reality, your neighbor changes from a brother into an opponent who must be defeated. Even if it is a small victory, it is yours, and it suggests that you are better.

When I was a believer studying to become a bricklayer, we had physical education classes in which we were often divided into teams. No one wanted me on his team because I brought victory to no one. I simply ran for the sake of movement, knowing how to do nothing and making no effort to learn, although I was ten to fifteen years older than the other young men. The teacher gave me good grades for my activity, while the students laughed at me. At the company, however, no one was particularly interested in my physical education grades. What mattered there was how quickly and well I performed my work.

Love does not boast. Competition and the spirit of rivalry are foreign to it. It is ready to occupy any place within society, wait for its time, and take possession of everyone who needs it at the most suitable moment. Love never competes with anyone, yet it never loses. Its victories have a different spirit and meaning. It is powerful in itself, strong as death. Its influence cannot be resisted, but a person may hide from it, conceal himself, retreat into the “shell” of everyday cares, and immerse himself in darkness. But when an open confrontation and battle take place, love calmly wins and overcomes the trial while continuing to love. Even the victor’s death does not mean his defeat. He allowed the spirit of love to act until his final breath, did not accept the services of the flesh, and did not yield to Satan’s suggestions. The enemy lost. He failed to persuade God’s servant to accept dark power and trust the spirit of wickedness in high places. But Satan does not rest; he invents the next trial and prepares another temptation.

Is God interested in my victories in sports? He knows the human heart and helps His children achieve things when they ask Him. It would be foolish to claim that all sport comes from Satan. Sport is neutral, like money and any kind of work. But the philosophy with which I approach these things can be deadly to the soul. There are sports and kinds of work that are cursed from the beginning and proceed from Satan, but by and large, what matters is the spirit with which I approach the issue. Love teaches me how to orient myself properly in such trials and turn every situation toward the manifestation of love, friendship, and happiness. It leads me away from places where my soul is in danger, and I simply do not desire to do what brings no benefit.

Life is given to prepare my heart for Eternity. Sport will not make me fit for Eternal life, but love is Eternal life already today. By believing in Jesus, I learn to be like Him. I find it difficult to imagine Him wearing the uniform of a soccer forward, but I see Him beside the bed of a sick soccer player whom everyone has forgotten. Christ is revealed in tender care and in efforts to save the soul of this man who has also been deceived by the world.

Friendship and love are needed everywhere, but they are not valued in every situation, especially when the goal is to seize something, defeat someone, or achieve something. When you stand upon the pedestal of fame, it seems that everyone wants to be your friend. But why? So they can boast that they have such a famous friend. And if you become disabled, which of these friends will remain faithful to you? Such is our world: “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

So does this mean that we must no longer watch sports or play any games? I did not say that. You must decide this for yourself with Jesus. If He is not opposed, neither am I.

Love respects your choice.

1. Please read Proverbs 16:4; Proverbs 21:31; Ecclesiastes 9:11; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Micah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:3; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 3:8; Proverbs 15:33; Romans 12:16; and Proverbs 3:34–35 in the light of our subject.

2. What did you understand from this lesson?

3. Do you participate in sports? If so, what success have you achieved?

4. What motivates people to organize athletic competitions?

5. Do you think Jesus approves of rivalry?

6. What should I do if I cannot control my competitive excitement in sports?

7. Are sport and love compatible?