Participation Trophy
“Participation trophy” … Whoever came up with this probably had everybody’s FEELINGS in mind, but they inadvertently created a spirit of halfheartedism and a willingness to quit if the “whatever” got too hard. Think about it … you run track, play soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, football, or any of another hundred activities, and you don’t place first, second or third…but you still get a “participation trophy”, medallion or ring…what are you telling the ones that put forth more effort, more practice, starved themselves on some strict regimen or invested more blood, sweat and tears ?!? That it’s alright, long as you tried ? More like, it’s alright, at least you showed up for one outta twelve practices. We’re sending the WRONG message people ! We need to train our young ones that to get the prize, you’ve gotta invest, sacrifice and crave that which you desire ! We’ve grown so many wimpy kids that thinks everyone owes em something or everything oughta be handed to em on a silver platter. People are asking for raises before their thirty-day probation periods are up ! If one spouse gets their feelings hurt, they’re ready to sign divorce papers ! Loyalty to an employer is almost a thing of the past…and an employer will discount a good employee over much of nothing nowdays. We make it too easy to quit, instead of staying the course and grittin our teeth and continuing the fight.” Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard , lest at any time we should let them slip” ( Hebrews 2:1 ). “ So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted” ( 1 Corinthians 15:58 ). “See to it that you don’t abuse the spirit of grace, rejecting Jesus’ sacrifice and trampling the Son of God under foot” ( Hebrews 10:29-31 ). And don’t let yourselves be counted in with this next bunch … “ They went out from us, but they didn’t really belong to us. For if they had really belonged to us, they would’ve remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” ( 1 John 2:19 ). A “follower of Jesus Christ” will not seek ways to sin, even though sin still finds a “chink in their armor” occasionally. A repentant heart will determine to live a maturing lifestyle devoted to pleasing God and glorifying Christ. Quitters only prove that they were never really committed to begin with. The Lord won’t be handing out any “participation trophies” when we breathe our last. We’re either “for Him” or we’re “against Him” ( Matthew 12:30 ).