If you have been reading our blog for a while, you know that God allowed my husband and I to be part of a Baseball Ministry. It was rewarding, exhausting, agonizing and heart wrenching, as young men fought to make it to the Big Leagues.
We spent countless hours, ministering to and trying to help young men (and their families) find and grow in Jesus.
Some of these young men came from meager means that citizens of the United States will never know. Some were number one draft picks, which means they were typically millionaires.
But they all had one thing in common. They all wanted to make it to the Big Leagues.
For some, the Big Leagues simply meant that their families in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba, and many other places, would no longer live in poverty. For others, it was the means by which they would attain fame, fortune and notoriety.
There is no equality in Baseball. There are no equal rights and opportunities.
We witnessed young men with incredible talent, get passed over for young men with lesser talent. Primarily because the team management had spent more money on the lesser player and needed to get some of it back, so they kept him and moved him up through the ranks.
But most of these young men gave it all they had to try and make it to the Big Leagues.
Some may disagree with what I am about to say. But God gives us talents that He desires we use to glorify Him. Exodus 31:3 says so “And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,”.
We see people skilled in music. God gave them that skill to glorify Himself. But, people use it to glorify themselves, when they aren’t walking with the Lord.
People have artistic abilities that they use to glorify themselves. But, God gave them that skill to glorify Himself.
Musicians are skilled in playing whatever their particular instrument is. But, God intended them to play that instrument for His glory, not theirs.
In one form or another, they are all trying to make it to the Big Leagues. All hoping to be an American Idol. They train, struggle and strive to obtain the very same things our ballplayers did. They want out of poverty and/or to attain fame, fortune and notoriety….they want to make it to the Big Leagues.
It is so incredibly sad. Whole lives of individuals spent trying to attain something that in the end won’t matter. In the end they won’t be able to take it with them. And, even if they “Make the Big Leagues”, in a couple of generations they will be all but forgotten.
The scripture warns us about striving for these earthly rewards. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19.
As followers of Christ, we probably think we can’t relate to what these people are all chasing after. But the enemy and world can influence us as well.
We aren’t looking for fame or fortune, perhaps. But we can get caught up in striving for importance, notoriety, glorification, etc..
We have to be very careful. We start out with a servants heart, happy to clean the restrooms for the Lord and His saints. But, when people see us serving and pat us on the back, suddenly that feels good and we want a little more. So, we take on another ministry. Or we start to clean more than the restrooms.
We do this because, deep down inside, we like it. We like that they notice how good we are at what we do. And we like it when the notice how much we do.
But now we have to ask ourselves, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10. God didn’t put these questions in the scripture for filler. He put them there because we can get drawn away. We begin to seek the approval of men. We begin to glorify ourselves. This is a really slippery slope. One that we have to try and avoid.
Because, we have already made it to the Big Leagues. Those who call Christ “Lord”, have all the notoriety any human should ever desire. Our Heavenly Father, knows us by name and we are loved by Him. Through the blood of Christ we have been forgiven.
There are no riches greater than those that await us. We walk on streets of gold.
Warning, this is a rabbit trail, lol. I always found that ironic. The thing that people spend their whole lives trying to obtain will be pavement under our feet in Heaven. Because the real treasure is Jesus!
There are no accolades greater than to hear our Savior say, “well done good and faithful servant”.
That is what we strive for. Not the accolades of men. It is all for Him. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” Psalm 115:1.
Father, help us to stay focused on you. Help us keep our eyes on Heaven. Holy Spirit, convict us when we strive for self glorification. Convict us when we chase after the discount “treasures” of this world and the accolades of men. Forgive us when we perform acts of righteousness for our own glory. Be glorified in us. Let the world see our good works and give glory to you, not us (Matthew 5:16). We pray this in Jesus precious and Holy name, amen.
If you have been striving, in one form or another to make it to the Big leagues. Desiring, fame, fortune, success and/or notoriety. I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that you find outlined there. Pray that prayer with your whole heart. Jesus said “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. And, He is the greatest treasure you will ever find.
Please, pray that prayer and once you have, reach out to me. I’d love to be in prayer with and for you.
Luv Ya!
