Service vs. Superiority

By Roger Lipe

In the world of sport, the centrality of competition leads to constant comparison and to alternating feelings of superiority and inferiority. Everyone involved in sport can tell you his or her record, ranking, standing in the league, etc… These are always in comparison to others. Those on top feel superior simply because their performance has been superior to the others. While this is a regular part of the sports world’s economy, it is also a terrible trap for those of us who serve as Christ’s representatives in it.

If we, while serving the teams at the top of our divisions, conferences or federations, bask in the achievements of our teams and take on an air of superiority, we stand on the brink of terrible foolishness. Our attitudes are in jeopardy and our ability to serve well is in danger. If we find ourselves making comparisons between ourselves and others who serve teams at the other end of the standings and infer that our position in the rankings is due to the effectiveness of our chaplaincy, we are simply deluded.

Christ Jesus’ way of leading was to serve. See John chapter 13 for a graphic example of how the greatest leader in history led his followers and how he challenged them to lead in His absence. A strongly held value for service of others prevents one from making foolish comparisons and keeps feelings of superiority at bay. It’s really hard to project an air of superiority while picking up trash after practice. One’s attitude is kept in check more easily as he performs the tasks no one else wants to do. We are infinitely more likely to please the Lord while serving quietly and consistently across seasons of winning and losing than when we capriciously ride the wave of success with the highest profile team available. Make the conscious choice to serve, to take the lower place, to eschew the privileges afforded the superior and you will keep your heart in its proper form.

Let’s be mindful of the Apostle Peter’s injunction to his friends, “…and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Let’s choose service over superiority and thereby consistently reflect the heart of the Lord Jesus in the world of sport.

(Roger Lipe is the executive director of the Southern Illinois Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also serves a team chaplain for SIU Football.)