Ready:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven."
-Matthew 6:19-20a
Set:
While she may disagree, many people believe that Mia Hamm is the greatest female soccer player of all time. Her resume' could certainly back up the claim: four NCAA championships, two World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals, and, oh yeah. . . she is the all-time leading goal scorer in international soccer history--male or female. Admittedly, her competitiveness is part of what has gotten her this far, but on the verge of her final World Cup in 2003 she said, "I'm trying to make relationships my first priority. In the end the medals never say, 'I love you.' They tarnish and collect dust."
Mia Hamm is one athlete who seemingly understands that sports is about more than medals and trophies. Jesus warned us in the Sermon on the Mount that earthly treasures would not last forever. How devastating it will be for those whose lives are centered on worldly possessions when they see their treasure disappearing. Instead we should store up treasures in heaven where we are certain not to lose our reward.
How can we store up treasures in heaven? By focusing on things in life that have eternal value (i.e. people). Remember the basketball you gave to the little boy who didn't have one and the time you lent a helping hand to the teammate you don't get along with? While it may not seem like much, you were storing up treasures in heaven. Jesus said that we will each be rewarded not for what we have, but rather what we have done (Matt. 16:27).
Continue striving for the gold as a competitor while keeping your main focus on storing up the treasures that are infinitely more valuable.
Go:
1. What are some ways you can store up eternal treasures as a competitor?
2. If you could look 30 years down the road and compare a life lived for "stuff" and a life lived for Jesus and people, what do you think you would see?
3. How will you store up treasures in heaven today?
Workout:
Colossians 3:2
1 Timothy 6:17-19
1 John 3:17