LESSON 4: EFFORT

Ready

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Set

My players hear me say a lot, “Maximum effort—always.”

Heading into a recent varsity softball playoff game, we emphasized to our players the importance of maximum effort in going after the ball. We knew we needed to get to every ball possible to compete in this playoff game against a very good team.

At the bottom of the third inning of a close game, the cleanup hitter for the other team crushed a line drive to deep center. Our center fielder got a great jump on the ball, tracking it down while it was in the air. There was only one problem.

She reached the ball at the same time she reached the fence.

Going full speed, she hit the fence as the ball hit her glove. The ball stayed in play while the center fielder flipped over the fence, still at full speed, and crashed into the ground behind the fence.

She stayed down for many minutes, as the coaches, our trainer, and her dad sprinted to her. She was in tremendous pain. After being taken to the hospital, she was diagnosed with a broken collarbone.

After that play, she forever earned her teammates’ respect.

Do you want to lead by example? Start with maximum effort—always.

You can’t control the talent level you’re born with. Some players are just born more physically gifted than others. You can control your effort. The Bible says it this way: “Run that you may obtain” the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). Train in a way that you have the best chance to succeed. And, during the race, give maximum effort.

This is primarily speaking of physical effort, but effort also has a mental component. In Matthew 14:22–33, Jesus sends the disciples out on the water during the night. In the middle of the night, he walks on water to them during a windstorm. Peter says if it is Jesus walking on water, tell him to come. When Jesus says come, Peter begins walking on water. As long as he is looking at Jesus, he walks on water. When he looks around and focuses on the wind and waves, he begins to sink.

Similarly, when we lose focus of what we’re doing in sports, we begin to sink. To give maximum effort, we must remain focused on what we’re doing and avoid becoming distracted.

More to the point in life, when we lose focus of Jesus, we begin to sink and are in trouble.

Go

1. Why is it so important in sports and life to give maximum effort?
2. In Matthew 14:22–33, do the circumstances change (i.e., conditions of the water and wind) from when Peter starts walking on water to when he begins sinking? If not, why does he begin to sink?
3. How does God equip us to give maximum effort and stay focused?