Controlling Self/Spirituality & Sports

Hebrews 13:17-Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Obedience and submission are two of the most important components to spirituality and sports. Neither is readily accepted as a key to the light. People in general and specifically athletes always seem to have problems when these qualities are expected. To obey simply means to comply and/or follow the commands or guidance of someone. Submission is merely to yield to someone in authority. Why is it that people have such an issue with these traits? Lets begin with the word submit. I have come to believe that it is the connotation or mental picture that is produced when you hear the term submit. Athletes tend to think in terms of superior and inferior, which produces the belief that a submissive person is somehow inferior. Such is the case with people in general. Ask some wives to submit to their husbands and you had better bring the boxing gloves because you might have a fight on your hands. Take the same strong willed woman and examine her on her job, submitting to her boss is somehow more acceptable because the line of authority is much more clear. Similarly, if we look at a star player who has been asked by a team captain of lesser ability to run extra sprints, you will likely get attitude. The same player instructed to do something by the coach is more likely to be done without question. The Bible is not politically correct, or minces words when stating very clearly that a person who has rule over you----submit. What people have problems with is the recognition of who has rule or authority. Authority is not the dirty word that it is often made out to be. A person in authority is in an official position with the power to influence. What is so bad with that?

That brings us to the simple four letter word obey. One might think that it is a proverbial four-letter word when it comes time to be obedient. Maybe it begins with the standard parental response to what seems like everything is "just do what I say". This in a nutshell is the essence of obedience. Do what you are told. You cannot pick and choose whom you will obey. Occasionally the person giving the guidance may be questionable, but the scripture says to obey them. If this can be accomplished without hurt, harm or injury coming to you or someone else, do what you are told. This is not saying blind obedience is required when the directive is clearly harmful. It does mean that your ability to follow the command will be profitable to you. If you could always see the obedient behavior as a profit, maybe the disobedience and rebellion would leave your soul. It is definitely a negative spirit to be disobedient. Always do what your Parents, Teachers and Coaches ask you to do. This may seem extreme in the sense that some of the people in these positions are sometimes wrong. But it is not the person necessarily who commands your obedience, it is the position of authority that must be obeyed. Let us continue to view obedient behavior as profitable. Most positions of authority must give an account because they are ultimately responsible for you and your willingness to obey. Their account, report or conversations about you will always be positive if you maintain a relationship of obedience. You most certainly cannot predict when your reputation and/or character are being discussed. On the other hand a disobedient and rebellious spirit is almost always looked at with grief. Think of all the negative terms related to disobeying; hardheaded, stubborn and somewhat apathetic. Those terms included in an account of your character can easily be seen as unprofitable. When obedience becomes a trait that is actively sought the benefits are tremendous. Obedience in the seemingly small circumstances will build a life long understanding of the importance of yielding and following the guidance of your leaders. The things that you learn and exhibit in the natural show your commitment to obey your heavenly authority our Father God