It's football time
Well, another football season is underway. All around the world, football fans are waiting with great anticipation to see how their team will do this season. People will actually be scheduling their lives around going to, and watching football from now through the end of the season. Sports has always been part of my life and something I've loved since I was young.
One day several years ago, I began to challenge myself in regard to how much time I spent watching games on television, reading about them in newspapers and magazines. I also began to count how much time I was spending each year on sports.
I am not going to tell you that sports is bad, or evil. The point to understand is that it is important how much of our time and how much of our resources are devoted to the things we like in this life, versus our relationship with God. Sports or whatever hobby you may have is an enjoyable part of this life. There is nothing wrong with having hobbies and interests, they make this life enjoyable.
Putting into perspective the short time we are on this earth against an eternity with God, made me realize that I should be devoting at least as much time to my eternal relationship as I do my earthly interests which cease when this life is over. How many of us don't have time each day to read their Bible or pray, but have time to sit in front of the television for hours?
Enjoy the wholesome things that this world has to offer. Do the things that interest you. But please, don't neglect the most important part of your life, your relationship with Christ. Your life begins to unravel quickly when you are out of fellowship with Him. You start to make poor decisions when you stop going to church, reading your Bible every day, praying every day, and spending quiet time with the Lord. Keep things in perspective and make sure that you spend as much time caring for your eternal interests as your earthly ones!
Enjoy football, or whatever your personal interest may be. However, never forget that your time with the Lord each day is the most important thing that you will do that day. When this short journey is over, that is what will follow you into eternity!