The Sun Comes up on Sunday

“Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas… Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.

I Timothy 4:7a-8, NLT

Punt, Bama! Punt!” Two blocked punts later, it was 17-16, Auburn.

The sun came up on Sunday.

Van Tiffin kicked it through the uprights from 52 yards away as time ran out! 25-23, Alabama.

The sun came up on Sunday.

And so it goes in the state of Alabama. Pick a side—and live and die with that pick.

It’s a “religion” that divides. We “love” our football, and we hate to lose—especially to THEM! The inherent vitriol has severed both friendships and marriages, it has led people to violate the law (in all kinds of ways), and it has incited fans (“fanatics!”) to break stuff.

And still, the sun comes up on Sunday morning.

For the dispassionate, it’s utter nonsense. For the passionate, few things matter more. It becomes a year-round conversation (obsession?) with more opinions and predictions than there are stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. We know very well that as autumn arrives in the South, those on the losing side on any given Saturday are positive that the world is coming to a swift end. The sun will not rise on Sunday morning.

But it does.

The apostle Paul knew sports, having grown up in a world immersed in the Graeco-Roman games. The Greek Olympics had been around for hundreds of years; consequently, Paul understood the importance of athletics and competition, so his reference to training doesn’t come from nowhere.

A preoccupation with games is nothing new. Actually, the Romans’ passion for games (“bread and circuses”) is often cited as one of the reasons for their societal collapse. Amidst such a world, Paul, a keen observer of things cultural and a man filled with the wisdom of the Spirit of God, instructed his protege, Timothy, to focus his time and energy on the things that mattered most: spiritual things.

We would do well to grant Paul a fresh hearing, “Stop wasting time arguing over trivial things and pour your energies into the things that make a lasting difference, the things that have eternal consequences and rewards.” Why? Because one day, the Son will “arise” from the East to claim His own—those who are “about their Father’s business.”

Ah, yes, games have their place, but in their place, they must be properly put by the people of God so that we’re investing in the right things for the right reasons. If we are to be obsessed, let’s be obsessed over things eternal (godliness!) rather than things temporal.

Roll Tide! War Eagle! Words that tend to divide.

How about this: Jesus is Savior and Lord and King forever! True words that unite. As brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s go for unity—especially on those fall Sunday mornings when the sun comes up and we’re worshiping King Jesus side-by-side with our church family!

“Hail, King Jesus!” I can definitely cheer for that!

A fellow beggar along the Way,

Greg Tinker