18 Jul
Why Perform for Others?
This summer I decided to tryout for my high school football team. On the first day of practice as we walked down to the practice field, it seemed like all of us were sizing up the competition. There are guys that are six foot five, guys who can run fast and others who have so much endurance they can run five miles and still not be tired.
Even the coaches are sizing up the variety of talent on the field.
Everyone out there had an obsession with winning. For better or worse, in the world of sports it is all about success and performance. But in the game of life, we can’t always go undefeated.
What I am learning in this particular season of my life is that God does not look at our performance. He doesn’t care if I’m the fastest, the strongest, or the tallest; He is interested in my heart and my relationship with Him.
Sometimes I get caught up in the race of pleasing my peers, always trying to perform and get the approval of my “peeps.” Unfortunately, that’s often the way of the world—always about how much bling or how nice the ride you have. I find myself saying to my friends, “Look at that guy’s car or his shoes, his phone, or his I-pod,” and I assume he is successful or cool because of his toys. A person should not be judged by what he has or does not have.
There is a great example in the Bible when Samuel was sent to find the new king. God told Samuel to go to the family of Jesse. Jesse had many sons, many sons with many talents. I imagine that some of his sons were great athletes, and some were the best hunters in Bethlehem, but the one God chose wasn’t the one who was the fastest, the strongest, the one with the most awards, or the most popular guy in Bethlehem. God chose David because his heart was right with God. He probably smelled like old sheep and may have been small, but that didn’t matter to God. God chose him because of his heart not his outward appearance. He would be later known as a man after God’s own heart.
As school starts this year, I need to remember to focus on my heart and not my performance.
What do you think? Join the discussion »
Filed in: Choices, Humility, Responding to God
About the Author
Luke Harper is a 15-year old student at Metro Christian Academy in Nashville, where he is active in football, basketball, and soccer. In his free time, he loves to watch ESPN, Dallas Mavericks, LSU TIGERS, Titans and enjoys hanging out with friends. He loves road trips, youth trips, mission trips, eating pancakes, and chillaxin. You can reach Luke on facebook.
