There really aren’t many lazy Christian athletes. However, most will admit that there have been times when they put in less than their best during a practice or game. Pastor Greg Gilbert said, “One of the most subtle and perhaps most dangerous forms of idleness in our work (competition) is our failure to recognize God’s purposes for us in the workplace. We may be active in our work, but we have concluded that our work simply doesn’t matter.” He adds, “Being idle does not necessarily mean inactivity or a lack of productivity. It can be an inactivity of the heart, an inability or unwillingness to see or embrace God’s purposes in the work He’s given you to do.”

Malachi 3 – Stolen Worship

Robbing God of our faithfulness is nothing new. Malachi 3 illustrates how Israel was accused of robbing God. The people of God had been unfaithful, breaking their covenant with the Lord. God’s love prompted Him to offer them one last chance to repent: “From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you” (Malachi 3:7-9).

The idea of robbing God seems unfathomable. Israel had grown cold toward God and had abandoned their first love. God explained how they had robbed Him by offering only a portion of their gifts at the temple. Their selfish stinginess was essentially stealing from God. 

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete prioritize God in their lives because they understand He deserves nothing less than their absolute best!

Bible Memory Verse – “For behold, ‘the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every worker of wickedness will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them aflame,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.’” Malachi 4:1 (LSB)

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