This week I am doing a Game Ready clinic at a Christian school in NC. The content involves both basketball training and also life training (building off our Game Plans for Life platform.) I love getting to teach in both arenas… and desire to help grow/mature the players both on and off the court!
Colossians 1:28-29 - Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man, that we may present every man perfect (mature or complete) in Christ Jesus. To this end I also LABOR, STRIVING according to His working which works in me mightily.
Years ago we tabbed the name of our training division as the Total Player Academy… wanting a maturing that, as 2 Timothy 3:17 states, “that the man of God may be complete, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED for every good work.” We want players that make the right play!
Well part of the warning involves taking an honest inventory of who we are and how we spend our time. (I even have one Game Plan this week titled “Free Time.”)
An honest inventory of who we are begins with a simple question of if one is even on the team. That is then followed with an introspective look at priorities… It seems that every player I have ever worked with claims they want to get better… claim they want to win… etc. Well one simple question I have for players, like those I’m charged with this week, is, “Tell me how you are spending your Free Time this off-season?”
A player that wants to be a better ballhandler or better shooter, will not do so spending Free Time on only video games or parties or whatever… I’ve heard many times in the past that if you look at a man’s bank account you can see where his treasure is by seeing where he spends his money. Well, I’m telling you, I can tell where anyone’s treasure is by seeing how they spend time!!!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
That is preceded by Jesus telling us to put in the time on things that matter. He stated (verse 19) “Do not lay up…” (NOTE: this is not a basketball ban to not do lay-ups… the word has the idea of not storing up or spending your time working toward.) He says to not pursue things that don’t matter… but instead reminds that we SHOULD (verse 20) “…lay up for yourselves…” eternal things!
Hoops paraphrase: DO NOT SPEND YOUR FREE TIME ON VIDEO GAMES; INSTEAD SPEND YOUR FREE TIME ON TRAINING!
Now obviously hoops is not everyone’s priority… BUT DON’T TELL ME IT IS YOUR PRIORITY… YOUR TREASURE… IF YOUR “BASKETBALL BANK ACCOUNT” DOESN”T SHOW AN INVESTMENT OF TIME!
Likewise, Believer, I ask what are your priorities? I can answer for you… where you focus your attention and time are your priorities. Eugene Peterson, in his paraphrase The Message, shares this Matthew 6 truth this way: “The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”
I realize some are taking this to the ultimate degree of “how
can I focus on things of God all the time?” (First you need to hear some of our
teaching on what a “worthy walk” looks like… in simplicity, all “you do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him.” (Colossians 3:17) HONOR GOD IN WHATEVER YOU ENDEAVOR TO DO!
BOTTOM LINE: Success or failure in life is often the product (profit or loss) of time spent! I realize there are at times extenuating circumstances, and if so, own them and see how you can turn a profit…
(Example: when I was 11 years old, I got tendonitis in my pitching elbow. It was in the midst of the season and I was unable to perform in my usual manner. BUT I didn’t stop performing… I SPENT MY TIME both in practice and games playing left-handed… I wasn’t as successful as play with my strong hand BUT found a product (profit from how I spent my time) of having a much more coordinated and strong left (weak) hand.)
What are your priorities? What gets your attention? There is your answer!
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