From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin
Today is the Super Bowl 53, the grand finale to the professional football season and a day to consume as many calories as the body can endure.
Even those who do not follow football will often get in on the hype and take in the big party.
But there is much more at stake this day than feasting and fun.
Former NFL football coach and current analyst, Tony Dungy, said this about character: “Character begins with the little things in life. We must show that we can be trusted with even the trivial things.”
Dungy is right on the mark.
Jesus put it this way in Luke 16:10: “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
Today is the biggest day on the professional football calendar, the Super Bowl.
It is the 53rd year for this marquee event.
The whole world will be watching, not only what happens on the field, but more importantly, in my estimation, what happens off the field after the game.
This is where the really test of character is on display.
How will players and coaches act if they lose?
Will they succumb to poor sportsmanship and sour grapes, or take defeat graciously?
Or, how about the winners?
Will they grandstand and get raunchy in their celebrations, or remain humble and set an example that their younger audience can look up to?
Win or lose, much is on the line in the area of character for these professional athletes.
Those who have been dedicated to a life of integrity, paying attention to even the small details of life will surely be more equipped to handle the pressure of the big game and not soil their reputation for all the world to see.
Emotions will be running high, along with the financial stakes that go with them, but the one who has proven himself in the trivial matters of life will have prepared himself for the big stage.
I encourage you to enjoy the game but pay careful attention to how players react after it’s all over.
The real MVP may be the one who acts classiest in the aftermath, regardless of whether his team won or lost.
