4:97 – Hall of Champions

#faithbites #faithjourney champions

Setting

I don’t know if your school had this, but mine did. A hallway dedicated to the Champions of the school. There are pictures, trophies, and mementos of days gone by. I walked through that hallway everyday of high school from the parking lot to classes. I would look at the trophies and pictures and think not only about those people but how I could get in their. To me, being in the Hall of Champions was something that you aspired to be. I almost got there in Debate, but just fell a bit short.

As an adult, I still want to be in a Hall of Champions. When I have shuffled off this mortal coil, I want people to remember me. I want some young person to walk through that space (who knows what it will look like then) and say, I want to be like that. I want that promotion, that ticker-tape parade, the trophy. Being known for something is what I’ve tried to work for.

As a Christian, I’m realizing that is the wrong approach. We shouldn’t do good works to be marked as Champions. The things we do shouldn’t be for our own Glory but the Glory of Christ. That doesn’t mean recognition is bad, but we should do the work for Christ and what comes shall come. Too often, myself included, we do the work for the recognition and not for the spirit of the work.

Today’s Questions: How do you try for recognition? What can you do to push the idea of recognition away and focus on the service and work ahead?

Scripture

• Philippians 3:14 – I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
• Matthew 6:1 – “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

Reflection

If we look back at the life of Jesus, he never tried for reward or recognition. In fact, many times after he performed a miracle, he told people not to say anything. They did anyway 🙂 Jesus was a servant first even though he was God and deserved all of the recognition we could give him. He did the work, washing people’s feet, spreading the good news, and sharing love.

Our two verses are very clear. We are working toward the prize of eternal life with God the father and Jesus. We aren’t working towards a place in a history book or spot in trophy box. If that happens, that’s ok, but that shouldn’t be our driver. In Matthew 6:1, we see specifically that we shouldn’t be practicing our righteousness for admiration as that goes against what God wants.

This isn’t easy. Heck, I still want to be remembered when I’m gone. Maybe it won’t be as a sports legend or a political figure or a community leader. Maybe it will be as a good father, husband, friend, and servant of God. However it goes, that is secondary to serving my God.

As we close, remember that as Christian we are in God’s hall of Champions. Christ saved us and we are pure in our Father’s eyes. No trophy or school record needed.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, today we pray for you to help us be confident that our reward will come in you and only you. Help us not look at human rewards or admiration when we do our work. You are our Champion and have told us what awaits the faithful when we die. We thank you for that Lord. We pray this in your name, Amen.