Sports Devotional 6/1/2000

June 1

WHAT ARE YOU LOSING?

From the Game Plan

Read Luke 15:11-32

Point of Emphasis

"The younger son...set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth." Luke 15:13


ANYONE WHO WOULD THROW AWAY A BASEBALL autographed by Babe Ruth gets what he deserves.

That's exactly what a couple of Florida teenagers did a couple of years ago, proving once again that you don't have to be intelligent to be a thief.

The two boys, who should have been out practicing baseball, broke into a baseball card store and stole sports collectibles worth $45,000. Apparently, as they were sorting through their hot stuff, they took one look at the baseball, decided it was old and worthless, and threw it in a dumpster.

After the boys were nabbed by the police and told their story, authorities searched the dumpster in question. Alas, it was too late. The trash - and the baseball signed by the immortal Babe Ruth - had met with the same fate as banana peels, old Kleenex, and discarded milk cartons: the incinerator.

Perhaps we shouldn't be too hard on the boys for tossing out this piece of baseball history. People are throwing a lot of great things away all the time. Think about it.

Young people throw out their virginity in the rush for pleasure. God's will gets tossed aside because of a misconception of what brings happiness. Opportunity gets canned in a search for a lifestyle that doesn't allow for studying or working hard. Good health gets trashed in the pursuit of some perceived enjoyment from cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. A growing knowledge of God gets dumped by a schedule that makes no time for God's Word.

The prodigal son in Luke 15 threw away his youth, thinking he'd be enjoying the fun of a party life. And he may even have had a few good times. But it led to destruction. It wasn't worth throwing his inheritance away for.

Think about what you have. Consider the value of what God has given you. Then vow not to throw it out. Save room in the trash for the bad stuff that comes along. Don't throw out the good. -- Dave Branon

Upon Further Review

What have I squandered recently? If I have thrown away something good, what does Jesus' parable tell me I can still look forward to?

Even if God has forgiven me for throwing out something good, what price might I still have to pay?

What principle in the Bible tells me that everything I do has consequences?


Action Point

Resource: The Way Back

Originally published May 22, 2001.