The Approval Syndrome
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BY JANE ALBRIGHT
JUNE 28, 2018
READY
The fear of man is a snare, but the one who trusts in the LORD is protected. — Proverbs 29:25
SET
Sports today have almost consumed our society. Who can even imagine a world before Sports Center? It seems everyone lives their lives through other athletes and coaches—their successes and their failures.
In this highly competitive world, the approval of fans and media can be very appealing, just as their disapproval can be very discouraging. As a Division I basketball coach, my teams and I are often the subject of lavish praise or severe criticism. I constantly struggle with the “approval syndrome”—the need for the approval of others. If I strive for man’s approval, I become elated with success and despondent with failure.
The above verse gives me comfort as I find confidence and peace in knowing that the only approval that matters is that of Jesus Christ. When I have given Him my life, I am always pleasing to Him—win or lose—and in successes or struggles. This is a constant truth, not because of what I do or how I perform, but because of who I am. I am His, and that never changes.
(Stuff that Jeremy actually thought of by himself:
“Our meaning comes from Jesus, not from what anyone in the world says. Let’s look at some passages where we see the meaning that we receive from Jesus:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Through Jesus’ resurrection, we are made new and ready for the salvation to come in Heaven.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
God has chosen us from unworthiness and made us His own special people.
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God has made us capable of facing any circumstance, not with any power of our own, but because He has given us strength.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it.
In Heaven, God will be our light and will glorify us, not because we deserve it, but because we will be in His presence, the greatest blessing of all.
GO
1. What do you spend more time reading—your press clippings or the Bible?
2. Right now, whom do you find yourself playing for? Whose approval do you seek for your performance?
3. Have you ever felt criticism from man, but approval from God? If so, give an example. If not, describe a time when you would have liked it.
WORKOUT
Extra Reading: Psalms 56:11; 62:8; 143:8; Proverbs 3:5
OVERTIME
God, while it’s easy to forget and worry about what my colleagues, fans, family, and friends think about me, I choose to perform for an audience of one—You and You alone. I pray that all my actions will bring You honor. Amen.