October 10, 2011 - An Understanding Coach

I was talking with a good friend tonight about the struggles that great players have when they try to be coaches. Basically we see guys like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, or even Michael Jordan that struggle in coaching roles. Why is that when they are such great players?

One common thread to the greatest players in any sport is their great dedication to hard work. They have a mentality that cannot settle for less than giving one’s best. They cannot stand to lose. They have a mentality that says, “you may beat me today but I won’t stop…therefore I will catch you!”

This all sounds like a mentality of a great coach. The problem is that these guys cannot understand players that don’t have that same drive. They are sickened by players that are content to lose. They forget that they are the exceptional ones and thus are not very understanding as coaches.

I thought of a Proverb in chapter 10 that says:
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.

I am reminded of the importance of hard work – again in Proverbs 10:
4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Did you get the spiritual implications there? The Lord of the Harvest has called us to action. He has commissioned us to preach the Gospel and make disciples. How often do we cause Him shame?

I often use this platform to try to challenge us in our reasonable service to the Lord. I hope this week to do the same. But I also hope to comfort us by reminding us that, unlike the superstars that cannot handle coaching screw-ups, our God is patient, kind, and merciful! He is the God of second, third, fourth…chances.

Lamentations 3: 22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“ Therefore I hope in Him!”