"I love the sense of satisfaction that I get when I’ve done a swimming workout or race, and know that I gave my whole being and heart to God in every moment of the swim. It’s the best worship I can offer him."
Important but not all important
We can make two mistakes when approaching sport. We may think it is too important or we may think it unimportant.
Jesus' words in Matthew 4:10 "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only", remind us that God is to be worshipped and that we are not to allow anything or anyone to take his place. In the ancient world, people worshipped other gods. In our society it more likely to be sex, power or money that we worship in God's place. Sport can become a god for us. Remember the Manchester United fans who used to have "7 God" on the back of their shirt in honour of Cantona or the famous banner at Old Trafford "Manchester United, the religion". There is a danger that sport can take the place of God and we must avoid it.
Equally if we want to reach people for Christ whose identity is in sport, it will not help to dismiss sport as only a game. If we believe that sport and our ability to enjoy sport is part of God's creation, then there is no reason that we cannot participate in sport as much as in any other human activity.
In the light of eternity, work, possessions, sex, money, power, music, stamp-collecting and sport are of limited significance. But there is no reason to see sport as of any less value that the rest!
Stuart Weir