Maybe The Worst Motivational Quote Ever (Bot9 #304)

These thoughts have been baking for some time. Many of the themes are familiar and I’ve touched them on in my other writings, but this package might be slightly different. Better put - here’s a different window into the same house of an idea.

We won our first state title five years ago. It was a great time with a great group of players and coaches. Soon after winning that trophy, I ran across a quote from Vince Lombardi. It’s one of those quotes that helps us see how different the Gospel of Lombardi is from the Gospel of Jesus.

"A man on top of the mountain didn't fall there." --Vince Lombardi

This has the potential to be an incredibly damaging thought and could lead one away from humility and towards to arrogance. Think about the subtext of the quote. “Hey you, person questioning the person on top, who do you think you are to ask a question of the winner or the person with the title or the authority in his field? It’s clear he knows what he’s doing! He’s on top of the mountain!”

Here’s the problem - a lot of people on the top don’t know how they got there, or have stuck to one way of doing things that may have worked once but isn’t repeatable, or have spent most of their time boxing out their position to prevent others from realizing their only answer for success is “we’ve always done it that way.”

This is another one of those “there’s nothing new under the sun” moments. Jesus experienced the same thing when he encountered the Pharisees. You have a group of religious people who spend their time making God feel more inaccessible than accessible. They’re on top of the religious structure and, instead of reaching down to everyone to bring them to the same level, they placed undue burdens on the people.

Being on top of the mountain, whether that is represented by winning or positional power or whatever manifestation it takes, can lead to greed. It’s a beast desiring to be fed constantly. Here’s how Chuck Swindoll explained it:

“Let's take a brief look at greed. Practically speaking, greed is an inordinate desire for more, an excessive, unsatisfied hunger to possess. Like an untamed beast, greed grasps, claws, reaches, clutches, and clings—stubbornly refusing to surrender. The word enough is not in this beast's vocabulary. Akin to envy and jealousy, greed is nevertheless distinct. Envy wants to have what someone else possesses. Jealousy wants to possess what it already has. But greed is different. Greed is forever discontented and therefore insatiably craving, longing, wanting, striving for more, more, more.”

Actor Will Smith has also commented about how success can lead a person away from freedom. He experienced more pressure once he reached the top of his movie stardom instead of more fulfillment or more freedom. His experience was that success inhibits creativity and risk-taking. Success is a hunger that can seemingly never be satisfied.

Does this mean we should avoid pursuing winning and success? Of course not. It’s why the scriptures also tell us to “run the race as to win.” But the teachings of Jesus tell us so much more. Matthew 6:34 has been so important to me, but now Matthew 6:33 is gaining in its importance as well:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all of these things will be added to you.”

Seek first. Get your priorities in order. Seek first His kingdom. Seek Jesus first. Do that and all of these other things will be added to you. Winning is a by-product of so many things and it’s not meant to be pursued as an outcome by itself. When you do, the results will consume you and lead your heart to greed. Surrender the result. Seek first.

After we lost the state championship game this year, a friend sent me this quote:

“Joy is not the absence of sadness or suffering; it is our awareness of the enduring presence of God in all things and at all times. Joy is the settled assurance that God is with us and for us in all circumstances and at all times.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced the “enduring presence of God” but I did during and after that game. We were in the same dugout we won the title in five years ago and, on this day, the gold trophy went to the other team. But, on this day, we received a different reward. His presence, His Kingdom, and His righteousness.

Hopefully there will be some people who see my humble climb on this mountain and follow me here. I can assure you of this, however - I fell here. Every step of the way.