Back when I was a coach, I would always have a pre-season meeting where I would write out my season goals and what I expected of my players. One year while coaching in Oklahoma, my ladies team told me, "Coach, we are so committed to winning and becoming the best team you have ever coached. " I appreciated their comments, but only time would tell if that commitment would come true. Commitment always takes giving. . .

As a believer, your relationship with the Lord is not only a one-way street. You can't expect to sit back and just take from God. You need to learn to give back to Him what He is due. Everything you have, everything you are, everything you have done and will do is because of God and is given by God. Don't you think you owe Him something in return? My father once shared a story of how their church's giving was down. He said that the younger generation didn't understand the importance of their tithe in their relationship with Christ. But one elderly man still gets it after all these years. He stopped by my father's office to say, "Pastor, here is my tithe even though I won't be able to eat for the rest of the week. " My father gave the money back to the elderly man and told him, "God knows your heart and sacrifice. Please enjoy your meals the rest of the week. " This man understood that commitment to God meant giving even if it meant that he would not eat. Now THAT is commitment.

My team in Oklahoma showed very quickly that their commitment was nothing but idle chatter. Oh, they wanted to win, but not one player gave up extra time to spend working on their game or lifting weights. I don't doubt that they were committed to winning. They just didn't have the giving hearts.

If you want to be fully committed in sport or life, it will involve giving--sacrificially and unconditionally. God has given you so much as an athlete and believer, why don't you give back to Him? Try giving three things back to Him: your time, your talents and your treasures. If you are truly committed to Christ, giving will be easy. Honor Him today by giving back your effort, your encouragement and your earnings. Remember, God gave it all so we could have it all. Why do we give so little?