I’ve got this brother who coaches football. He wins. A lot. Let me tell you why. He teaches the value of commitment, respect, teamwork and leadership. This is not a little sister brag post…it is a little sister who has watched a man teach young men how to be leaders on and off the field. Coach Jones “teaches that life is not about you as an individual…it is about what you have to offer the team”.
We have the same calling today as Christians. Life should not be about “me”…it should be about what I have to offer “the team”. Exodus 17:8-13 are some of my very favorite verses in the Bible. The Israelites have been attacked by the Amalekites and Moses is sending Joshua out to battle. Moses says (vs 9) “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” (vs. 10-13) So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other — so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Could God have won the battle without Moses’ hands being held up? Of course. But as in life, God has an expectation that we will do our part. Earlier in Exodus 14:16 God instructs Moses to “Raise your staff and stretch out your hand” over the sea to divide the water so the Israelites can go through on dry ground”. In Joshua 6 we read of how the people were to march around Jericho six days and on the seventh blow their trumpets and the walls would fall. Did God NEED the people to do those things in order for the sea to part or the city to fall? Of course not. But again, there is an expectation by God, we will do our part.
When we choose to do our part for “the team”…God’s team…we are showing commitment, respect, teamwork and leadership.
Commitment – the quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity.
Joshua committed to battle. Moses committed to prayer. Aaron and Hur committed to the team.
These four men committed everything to win the battle, whatever the cost. They understood the importance of finishing the job. They understood the value of following through to the end. Aaron didn’t tell Moses there was a better offer back at the campsite. Moses didn’t tell Joshua “you know…I’m just too tired. This battle has gone on longer than I planned”. Hur didn’t say “your sister has dinner waiting on me and I’m late already”. Those are ridiculous statements but we hear them all the time. We forget how important the battle is that we are fighting daily. A battle between good and evil. 1 Peter 5:8-9 “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith…”. Satan wins a battle each time we commit to something and do not follow through. As part of a family/a team we must remember how important our decisions are not only to us personally but to those who are watching from the sidelines.
Over the last three decades of coaching, Coach Jones, coachrickjones.com, has made a lot of rules, changed a few and discarded others. But there are some absolutes that will never change.
- We will keep our priorities in order. #1 God, #2 Family, #3 Academics, #4 Football, #5 Everything else
- We will put the team before self
- We will be good role models
- We will treat everyone with respect
- We will help each other get better
- We will never compromise what is right
- We will do it hard, we will do it right, or we will do it again.
These are principles every Christian needs to live by each and every day.
FASDOGS (Fundamentals, Agility and Speed), is a four week camp each summer which allows Coach Jones to begin training his Bulldogs with the skills they will use on the football field. They learn alongside the volleyball players, soccer team, cheerleaders and basketball teams, which are all invited to encourage school spirit. 566 students (along with some parents and community members) went through the program this year. What is commitment? If you have not missed A SINGLE DAY during the four week period you receive a 100% Bulldog T-Shirt. That is the goal. That is the prize. That is the reward…a T-Shirt. There is no way to get the shirt if you don’t earn it. ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSES ARE ACCEPTED. This shirt cannot be bought, bargained for, or given to you. Why? Because it was earned. It was earned by committing oneself to a goal and completing it. Out of 577 who began…316 became 100% bulldogs. Commitment…Reward.
What is the Christian’s reward for commitment? Not to take away from the t-shirt…but our reward is so much better. It is a reward that has been prepared by a God who loves us more than we dare to dream. It is a reward that is just waiting for us to claim it. It is being kept in pristine condition for the day we are called home. 1 Peter 1:4 “…an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you…”. This reward cannot be bought…Christ already paid the price. It cannot be bargained for because the prize is no one else’s to give. Our reward is waiting for us not because we earned it but because of God’s grace…we have made a choice to be a part of His team, we have shown up, we have committed to follow Him. That is what our commitment to God is rewarded with! A home with Him for eternity.
Commit to battle – Commit to prayer – Commit to the team
I mentioned earlier that my brother wins…a lot. Here is his record over the last thirty years of being a head coach.
- 9 state championships
- 5 runner-ups
- 307-72 record
- 29 years in the play-offs
- At Greenwood:
- 8 championships
- 3 runner-ups
- 15/15 years in the playoffs
You would think with that kind of record the following question would get a different answer.
Me: What would be your proudest moment as a coach?
Rick: Hard to say. In 2000, we had a losing season and were down 10 points in the 4th quarter the last game of the season. Our guys had nothing but pride to play for, but came back to win in the last few minutes of the game. They could have quit, but they didn’t. We finished 4-6
struggle…commitment…game won
I feel as if that is how God saw Joshua, Moses, Aaron and Hur.
I believe that is how God sees me. As someone who struggles but stays committed to Him…committed to the team.
Game won.
Listen to His Voice,
Lee Ann
p.s. if you are curious about the picture…it could be a whole ‘nother blog but it’s easy enough to understand. Coach Jones, “We wear a target on our back because when you are successful, people love to see you fall. We work everyday to hit the target.”
