When basketball coach Rick Pitino was coaching the Boston Celtics, he was accused by his players of being an autocratic leader who believed “My way or the highway.” According to Sports Illustrated, he would continuously scream basic instructions to his players like, “Paul! Get down in your stance, Paul!” or “Rebound it! Rebound it! Rebound it!” It was reported that he yelled these pedestrian commands every minute of every game, demonstrating his controlling attitude. His lack of success with the Celtics was attributed to his being a compulsive micro-manager and not knowing when to back off and let his players play.

Mark 10 – The Right Priority

“My way or the highway” is often thought of as an “old-school” approach to coaching. What might be avoided today in sports was essential to the Lord’s message to the rich young man who wanted to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17-31). Jesus has the right, as our Creator, to be authoritarian. He had the same message in Luke 16:13, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” That’s His way or the highway! 

It is hard to accept a gift when you become preoccupied with money and the things it can buy. The rich young ruler sought salvation on his own terms, but he was ultimately disappointed. Material wealth isn’t inherently evil, but it can be detrimental to our spiritual well-being. It can become too easy to sacrifice the kingdom of God for the pursuit of wealth. The priority must be God’s kingdom rather than man’s riches. Jesus urged the rich young ruler to leave one master to serve another, to trade the treasure of the corrupt world system for the true wealth of God’s eternal kingdom.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete refuse to let money become their master and ruin their lives. Instead, they are grateful for it and use it to glorify God.

Bible Memory Verse – “Jesus answered, ‘The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 LSB

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute on Measuring Success.

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Book of the Week – Gentleness in Action Book 8 of 9 (Virtues to Victory Series)

Click HERE to see our full catalog of study guides.