UNPACK This...Finding God's FaithfulnessSample

Frank Martin’s Perspective

South Carolina made an incredible run in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, making it to the Final Four as a 10-seed before bowing out.

In the moments after his team’s elimination, Gamecocks head coach Frank Martin shared these words about his team:

“People keep score when you play games 35, 36, 37 times a year, and sometimes you win, and sometimes you don’t. That score eventually goes away. When you impact people by the masses the way these kids have, that means you’re a winner as a human being, and that’s what matters.

“When we get home, and they realize what they’ve done in our community, their hearts will open up with joy because they’ll be so happy that the pain of losing a game eventually goes away.”

As in sports, people focus on winning and often define success by a scoreboard.

But when we look at the bigger picture and realize what truly matters to God, we see He cares about our hearts, faithfulness, and how we love others.

He doesn’t look at the scoreboard but is concerned with our character and the people we impact along the journey.

Whether or not we reach our goals in sports and business, can we say we are a “winner as a human being?” Do we believe the “run” is about more than just finishing first? Are we willing to place value on our impact instead of the score?

God sees our hearts and is looking for love and faithfulness. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:3-4 (ESV), “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.”

As followers of Jesus, we must honestly examine what we consider success and be willing to see the impact and joy that can come from being on the wrong side of the scoreboard.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for being so concerned with the wrong kind of success and winning. Help me to focus on the impact I can have on others along the journey and to be loving and faithful in everything You call me to do. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.