Is Sunday football a casual interest or something more? Does your love for sports go beyond a form of entertainment, recreation or exercise to an obsession?

Thousands of years ago the people of Israel escaped their Egyptian slave masters for freedom. As they fled, Moses often spent time with God seeking Him for guidance in governing the people. Once he was alone with God for 40 days, and as the time passed the people began to doubt if Moses would return, so they looked to Aaron, Moses’ brother. He became their new leader, and they sought his help in finding a new god. He led them to craft a golden calf, where the leaders of the people said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4).

Israel replaced the Lord God with a golden calf because of their impatience. What they once looked to God for, they quickly cast aside for something of their own creation.    

This illustrates the human condition. Without realizing it, we are constantly looking to somewhere, something or someone else besides the Lord God, to satisfy us and give us what only God can provide.  

Sometimes sports can become one of those replacements. It is a multi-billion-dollar world-wide industry that is a deep part of the fabric of our culture. This is evidenced by how much time and money it consumes for millions of families. From a form of entertainment to passionate participation, from sports gambling to investing in it as a business, or having it the centerpiece of an entire community. 

Has sports become our golden calf? 

Do you look to sports for happiness, success, financial gain or meaning? The answer can be different for each person. Let me clarify, it is not about sports itself, but the attitude with which you view it. Similarly, the problem was not the golden calf itself, but how the people of Israel viewed it. They looked to it as a god, to give themselves what only the Lord God could give. The golden calf, like sports, is a creation of this world. We built the games. We built the teams. We built the industry. The Bible says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)  

There is a difference between enjoying and loving. Loving refers to a dangerous obsession, where something becomes like a god to us. Have you crossed that line with sports?

The Scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 16:25) The things of this world deceive us. They draw us along into thinking that what we need is found in them. However, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life ...” (John 14:6) Though we may find short-term happiness in our team winning or success in sports betting. True life, the kind we were created for, is only found in Jesus.

He came to suffer, die and rise again to show us where life is. It is found in Christ. Every other way outside of Him is a fake, and cheap replacement, no matter if it is sports or something else. Today, experience forgiveness for all the wrongs you have done, and discover who you were made for. Jesus.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray that you will examine our hearts. Show us if we have a misplaced priority of sports in our life. May we seek you for forgiveness if we do, and may Jesus become our consuming passion. Whether our teams win or lose or our child excels or not, may our eyes always be fixed on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Clint Decker is president of Great Awakenings. Share comments at cdecker@greatawakenings.org and follow his blog at clintdecker.blogspot.com.