Moral
Lessons from
the Olympic Games
Paul Wong
According to tradition
the first Olympics took place in 776 BC.
One legend claims the games were established by Heracles (Hercules), who
brought a sacred olive tree to
Aside from the Lord Jesus
Christ Himself, no one has had a greater influence on the founding of
Christianity than Paul of Tarsus. The
apostle Paul introduced the One True God to the Greeks in
If the Apostle Paul were alive today
it is highly probable that he would have spoken about the Olympic Games just as
he wrote to the churches in
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but
one receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it. And everyone
who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,
but we for an imperishable crown.
Therefore I run thus; not with uncertainty. Thus I fight; not as one who beats the
air. But I discipline my body and bring
it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should
become disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
Only One Top Prize in One Race
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but
one receives the prize? Run in such a
way that you may obtain it.” (1 Cor. 9:24)
One of the most eagerly
awaited events in the Athens Olympics is the 100 meters race because the winner
would be known as the “fastest man in the world.” Maurice Greene, gold medalist of the 100 meters
race in the Sydney Games 2000, was confident about repeating his success in
Athens 2004. He even has a tattoo on his
biceps with the letters “GOAT” that stands for “Greatest Of
All Time”. What arrogance and pride!
“Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a
fall. Better to be of a humble spirit
with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” (Pro. 16:18-19)
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your
elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to
one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but
gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore
humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due
time.” (1 Pet. 5:5-6)
Maurice Greene even
prayed for two minutes before going to the starting blocks, but he was never a
factor after the gun sounded. He came in
third. There is now a new champion. The name of Justine Gatlin is not widely
known. After crossing the finish line
Justine knelt down on the track before thousands of spectators to give thanks and glorify God. He is a humble champion. Read this story about Justine Gatlin’s
humility and also about the
gentlemanly behavior of the American athletes after winning the gold, silver
and bronze in the men’s 200 meter race.
The three men all knelt down on the race track and gave thanks to God. Read this story 
Another athlete who
demonstrated humility and magnanimity during the Olympic Games in
Temperate in all things
“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all
things.” (1 Cor.
9:25)
Winning a race requires
purpose and discipline. The word “temperate” (Greek ‘enkrateuomai’) is used figuratively of
the rigid self control practiced by athletes with a view of gaining the
prize. They must be willing to give up
the soft life to go through rigorous training in physical and mental
preparation for the championships. An
essential part of physical preparation is getting proper nutrition. As victorious Christians our nutrition for
the soul is to be consistently fed with the Word of God. Daily devotion, prayer and Bible-reading is the winning formula.
Just as champion athletes must deny themselves of toxic foods and drinks
that destroy the body, Christians must also stay away from watching movies and
television programs that corrupt the soul.
They must not read bad books and magazines and not listen to bad music
and songs.
An Imperishable Crown
“Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.” (1 Cor. 9:25)
In the ancient Olympics, a crown of
olive leaves was the winners' only prize. Later, laurel wreaths were used. The medalists' crowns in the 2004 Olympics come
from an olive grove in
Everything on this earth is
perishable. After a few years that crown
of olive leaves would become so brittle that the slightest touch could cause it
to disintegrate. Even the gold, silver
and bronze medals that the champion athletes receive at the winners’ podium
will not last forever. They will all be
destroyed when our Lord Jesus Christ returns (2 Peter
Look only unto Jesus Christ
”Therefore I run
thus; not with uncertainty.” (1 Cor. 9:26)
In the Olympics every
participant has a common goal which is to win the gold medal, but no one is
guaranteed to win this prize. Let us
look at some of those athletes who were greatly disappointed. Maurice Greene who had won the gold medal in
the 100 meters race in Sydney in 2000 was so confident that he would repeat his
success in Athens that he had a the acronym “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) tattooed on his arm. He came in third in the 100 meters
final. Ana Guevara, reigning world
champion in the women’s 400 meters race, was so certain she would get the gold
medal for
Nothing is guaranteed
and certain in the Olympics just as nothing is certain in human lives. When the apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore I run thus; not with uncertainty” he meant the heavenly
race with the Lord Jesus Christ in his mind.
Only Jesus can provide certainty.
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected;
but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not
count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press
forward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
(Phil. 3:12-14)
There is a bumper
sticker that reads: “Christians are not
perfect, just forgiven”. Trying to live
a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us completely
drained. We may feel so far from perfect
that we can never please God with our lives.
Sometimes we look back at our lives and get hung up on our past
mistakes. This makes us feel discouraged
and prevents us from attaining maturity.
Just observe the gold medal Olympic runner during the hurdles race. Does he ever look back at the hurdles that he
had just jumped over? If he did he would
never have won. As winners we are to “press forward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus.”
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at
the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2)
Score Points to Win
“Thus I fight; not as one who beats the air.” (1 Cor. 9:26) In Olympic boxing where
the computerized scoring system is used, points can be scored only when the
white portion of the glove lands squarely on the opponent’s head or torso that
is above the waist. During the Olympic
boxing matches one often sees boxers throwing a lot of punches that miss the
target areas. They are just “beating the air.” A lot of
energy is wasted and no points are scored.
We find this to be true in Christian life. Remember Jesus Christ’s remarks on Martha who
was distracted with much serving? “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many
things. But one thing is needed, and
Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Lk. 10:38-42) Martha was beating the air a lot with her
activities but did not score points, but Mary’s sitting at Jesus’ feet and
hearing His word scored a lot of points with her Master. To become winners Christians must do the things
that please God.
Discipline the Body
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest,
when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:27)
As any
Olympic athlete could attest, top physical form is a must - and it requires
strict regimentation of everything from training schedules to diet.
What is the secret to
the success of the Cuban boxing program?
The staples of
Now read this sad
story about how Jason Estrada, an American champion who had beaten a Cuban handily in the Pan AM Games in August 2003,
became very careless in his eating habits and had adopted a bad attitude, then lost badly to the same Cuban boxer at the Athens Games in August 2004.
Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are called "Disciples", a word that is derived from "discipline". Christians must disipline themselves by giving up the soft life and undergo vigorous spiritual training in order to win battles for the soul.
Disqualification
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest,
when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:27)
Champion Greek sprinters
Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou were injured on
Friday in a motorcycle accident shortly after missing drugs test. The runners were
suspended by the Greek Olympic Committee after they missed the drug tests the
day before the Games opened. The doping
drama swept the Games city, triggering shock across Greece hours before the
Athens Olympics, with some people bursting into tears at the news about the man
they call "Greece Lightning."
The US women’s 4 x 100
meter relay team which has the fastest runners in that event was disqualified
when Marion Jones failed to pass the baton to Lauryn
Williams within the prescribed exchange zone.
Christians, like what the apostle
Paul wrote, must lead a disciplined life and abide by God’s rules so that they can
become winners and not be disqualified.
Fight the Good Fight and Finish the Race
In all Olympic events there
are rules to follow. God has given us
His Commandments. It is true that
Christians are saved by grace through faith but they still have to do everything
in accordance with God’s will in order to go to heaven (Mt. 7:21-23; Rev. 22:14).
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good
confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Tim. 6:12)
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that
Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim.
4:7-8)
May God bless
you
This Web Site is presented by Paul Wong
to the ARK Forum on
For
comments please write first to: ark@pdq.net
|
Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the
President of ARK International. |
 |
|
|
|
