Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. — James 1:27
I sat with a coach whom I had known for years, discussing how to help someone in the midst of crisis. He desperately wanted to help, but, almost in tears, he revealed he could not because of his own finances. He was enslaved to debt. I wish I could say his story is the exception to the rule, but sadly it is not today. We live in an age of credit. An entire industry is built on encouraging us to incur large amounts of debt. Many companies earn more from interest than from the products they sell. Debt service takes a huge part of people’s income. Proverbs 22:7 clearly warns us about debt: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” Debt causes us to shift our allegiance to those we owe and away from God.
Coaches typically know a great deal about the lifestyles of their athletes and therefore have tremendous opportunity to see who needs help and how best to offer it. When coaches help the needy student, they are practicing pure and undefiled religion. They are offering help to Jesus, who said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me” (Mt 25:40).
1. Have you sentenced yourself to debtor’s prison? If so, have you asked God to guide you out?
2. Have your personal choices prevented you from being able to give aid to your athletes and therefore to Jesus Himself? If so, what changes can you make that will free you to serve?
Extra Reading: Proverbs 6:1; 11:15; 20:16; 22:7; James 2:15–17
Lord, help me manage my finances in a way that will bring honor and glory to You. Amen.