In many cultures, especially in the USA, and even more often in sports cultures there is a tendency for people to demand their rights. There is lots of talk about what he deserves, what she has earned, that they have a right to this or that. The problem for us is that this way of thinking is contrary to the Lord’s way of leading through service and forfeiting our rights to love like He does. Once again, the faithful sport chaplain, character coach or sport mentor hears the Lord Jesus’ call to be countercultural and to demonstrate respect rather than demanding his rights. Let’s consider some ways we may live out this ethic among our friends and colleagues in sport.
• The one who demonstrates respect honors the boundaries set for him (where to be and not to be, time parameters, etc.) but the one who demands his rights barges in where he doesn’t belong and thereby compromises relationships for a greater sense of privilege.
• We demonstrate respect when we take no offense to others’ good natured kidding, even if it cuts a little deeper than we’d like. When we demand our rights by being too easily offended by a comment, a perceived slight or by being omitted from an invitation list, we expose the self-centered nature of our hearts.
• Those who compliment others freely are demonstrating respect. They are not flattering others, but simply giving voice to their observations of excellence. Those who constantly solicit compliments for their work are demanding their rights and pollute the atmosphere around them. They either go fishing for compliments by asking, “How’d I do?” or even offer their own comments for others to endorse. “That was a great chapel talk, don’t you think?”
• We demonstrate respect when we take no offense to others’ good natured kidding, even if it cuts a little deeper than we’d like. When we demand our rights by being too easily offended by a comment, a perceived slight or by being omitted from an invitation list, we expose the self-centered nature of our hearts.
• Those who compliment others freely are demonstrating respect. They are not flattering others, but simply giving voice to their observations of excellence. Those who constantly solicit compliments for their work are demanding their rights and pollute the atmosphere around them. They either go fishing for compliments by asking, “How’d I do?” or even offer their own comments for others to endorse. “That was a great chapel talk, don’t you think?”
Our roles in the sports world demand that we forfeit our rights and seek the best of others, even at our personal cost. This is Jesus’ way. It is very well described for us in Mark 10:42-45. “Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.” Jesus, rather than demanding His rights as Creator and Lord, forfeited them to serve and to give His life – a ransom for many. He wisely demonstrated respect, thereby confounding the elite and the powerful.
Let’s each and all follow Jesus’ model by demonstrating respect to those who deserve it and especially to those who don’t. Let’s also follow Him by forfeiting, rather than demanding our rights. He will be our protection and our provision if we will trust Him to accomplish His purposes in His time.
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