Let's see if I've got this straight:
Terrell Owens is a gifted football player.
He wants more money to from the Philadelphia Eagles.
He compared himself to Jesus.
Am I missing something here? The first two sentences make perfect sense. Football players always want more money. Come to think of it, non-football players always want more money too. It's very human and very normal to want more money for whatever it is you happen to do.
Evidently the Eagles think they are paying him plenty of money, and since he is under contract, Terrell Owens either plays for them this year or he doesn't play at all. Okay, so this is your basic dispute between a man who thinks he deserves more money, and an organization that says, "We will pay you what we agreed to pay you." Happens all the time.
How did Jesus get dragged into this? According to FoxSports.com, Owens made the following statement:
"At the end of the day, I don't have to worry about what people think of me, whether they hate me or not. People hated on Jesus. They threw stones at him and tried to kill him, so how can I complain or worry about what people think?"
Actually, the talkative wide receiver has a good point. It's quite true that the religious leaders "hated on" Jesus and tried to kill him. It's also true that anything we suffer pales by comparison to what our Lord endured on the cross. And I'll even grant that Terrell Owens was not directly comparing himself to Jesus.
But the whole things smells bad.
Jesus was the Son of God.
Terrell Owens is a wide receiver.
Jesus came to die for our sins.
Terrell Owens wants to win the Super Bowl.
Jesus did not answer his accusers.
Terrell Owens can't stop talking about his critics.
Jesus was hated without a cause.
Terrell Owens has caused many of his own problems.
Oh well, we could go on, but what's the point? If he wants more money, that's fine. The way to get it is to go to training camp, have a stellar year, and help the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Or he can hold out if that's what he thinks is best.
But he should leave Jesus out of his negotiations. It just makes him look like a fool.
(On July 1, Harvest House released my newest book, The Healing Power of Forgiveness.)
To sign up for Pastor Ray's free weekly sermon email list, click here. You can find his daily weblog, online sermons, travel schedule, and other resources at www.keepbelieving.com. You can write Pastor Ray at raypritchard@calvarymemorial.com.