SPIRITUAL WEEKEND WARRIOR

 

Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sports is a huge part of our society. From the time children can walk they are introduced to sports; soccer, football, baseball, hockey, basketball, tennis, golf, etc. Many children are enrolled in sports programs that can dominate their lives. The message that they receive is that sports is an important part of their lives, if not an essential part.

As children grow into adulthood there is a shift. As the demands of work take center stage, sports is relegated to some evenings and weekends. Many adults cease to be active participants and become avid spectators. Others fall into the category of weekend warriors who participate in some organized form of their chosen sport.

There is a big difference between a professional athlete and a weekend warrior. For the professional, their sport is their life. It dominates everything that they do. For the weekend warrior, their sport is a hobby that they indulge in periodically.

I think that many of us are more like weekend warriors than pro athletes when it comes to our faith. We gear up for Sunday and possibly some weekday small group or Bible study but focus on other things the rest of the time. Our faith is not the dominant force in our everyday lives. It isn’t that we don’t believe or that our faith is not genuine. It does mean that we approach our faith more like a hobby than a lifestyle.

The Bible is clear that our faith should permeate every aspect of our lives. It should shape our personality, our character, and the way we interact with others and the world around us. As Paul states in his letter to the Ephesians, we are to live a life worthy of our calling in Christ. (Eph. 4:1)

In essence, Paul is challenging us to move from being weekend warriors to the pro level. He challenges us to up our game to a new level of spiritual reality. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

Paul doesn’t leave us in a vacuum to figure out how to be a spiritual pro. He gives us practical guidance about what is involved in living our faith as a daily experience. First, he instructs us to put on the right equipment.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

He also translates this into specific actions that we can incorporate into our everyday lives.

Ephesians 4:25-32, 5:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I was running the other day and a man rode up next to me on his bike. He said, I could never do what you are doing. I told him that I started running many years ago and have just kept it up. In sports, a person doesn’t go from a weekend warrior to a pro athlete overnight. It takes discipline, consistency, and hard work. A person starts with the basics and gradually refines their skills. Each step taken moves a person closer to the goal.

In the same way, we do not move from being a spiritual weekend warrior to a spiritual pro overnight. In fact, it is a lifelong journey. The more we discipline our daily lives to be in line with God’s design, the more we will move toward being a full-time believer of Christ. When it comes to sports, it is okay to be a weekend warrior. But we should never settle for that as a follower of Christ. Our walk with Him is far too important.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.