Or: Which Game Are You Playing?

How many of us are fully behind “Friday for Future” and perhaps belong to a political “Green” party or are at least fully in favor of saving our planet being the most urgent issue and task?

But what does our daily life look like? Do we buy sustainable, high-quality products and clothes that last? Or are we tempted to buy cheap things that don’t last and only contribute to unnecessary waste?

I have long tried my best to replace plastic items with things made from natural materials (including toothbrushes). Also, clothing has never been a fashion thing for me – I have a few pieces that are 10-15 years old, things I’ve always liked and enjoyed wearing that I eventually have to shred with a heavy heart because they are so worn out and could only be worn for gardening or similar work in the end.

But recently my “being green” was tested when I read something that went completely against my grain. Read it for yourself first to understand what I mean:

Which Game Are You Playing?

“Take the shot! Take the shot!!” There he stood, the football at his feet, the goal wide open, the rest of his team yelling more than enough encouragement, while the other team and their goalie were speeding back to defend.
It was a clear shot, and that goal would have put our team in the lead.
But … he turned around and passed the ball to another teammate.
A sigh of frustration swelled from the rest of us on the team.
This is so typical of him. He’s the best player here, and yet he’s always slowing down if the other team is struggling, or passing the ball to other people when he has the shot, I thought.
When we were chatting after the game, his over-eagerness to share the ball came up. This was something we teased him about regularly, as he was consistently the least aggressive player on the field. He wanted to win, he loved football, and he was probably the most talented of all our friends, and still he was the least competitive person I have ever met.
When one of our little brothers joined the game, he would always make space for him to play, pass him the ball, and give him advice. If the kid was on the other team, he would take it easy on him and make sure the other team didn’t position him somewhere that he couldn’t handle.
None of us had a problem with this; we all appreciated it when it was our little brother playing. But we didn’t appreciate it as much when he’d let a point slip through our fingers during a game.
But, to be fair, regardless of how much we teased him or huffed or rolled our eyes, we respected him for it. I know that with certainty because to this day when we speak about those games, we still respect him for it.
Looking back, I wonder if perhaps he was thinking less about his career as an amateur football player on the streets of South Africa and more about a different kind of career. No matter what happened around him or what others deemed as important—like scoring points in a football match—he knew how he wanted to live. He knew who he wanted to be. He knew what game in life he wanted to win.

Taken from here

„Remember this Kenyan runner Abel Mutai who was just a few feet from the finish line, but became confused with the signage and stopped, thinking he had completed the race. A Spanish runner, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and, realizing what was happening, started shouting at the Kenyan to continue running. Mutai didn’t know Spanish and didn’t understand. Realizing what was taking place, Fernandez pushed Mutai to victory.

A journalist asked Ivan, „Why did you do that?“ Ivan replied, „My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win.“

The journalist insisted, „But why did you let the Kenyan win?“ Ivan replied, „I didn’t let him win, he was going to win. The race was his.“ The journalist insisted again, „But you could have won!“ Ivan looked at him and replied, „But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor in that medal? What would my mother think of that?“

Values are passed on from generation to generation. What values are we teaching our children? Let us not teach our kids the wrong ways and means to win. Instead, let us pass on the beauty and humanity of a helping hand. Because honesty and ethics are winning!“

Via: Mystery Stories

 

This call to teach our children honesty and ethics, to teach them beauty and humanity, may be the right thing to do, but how easy or difficult is it for us to practice it? Us, for whom so much of that goes against our nature, goes against our grain?

But isn’t that exactly what Jesus brought with the NEW in the New Testament? And in order to put this into practice, Jesus taught us that we must be born again, that is, we must relearn our entire way of thinking and acting like a baby, so that we can worship the Father in “spirit and truth” and to “see” the kingdom of God – see John chapters 3 and 4.

And such a change in thinking is needed in order to be truly “green” with not leave out the “what game are you playing”. Otherwise we only go halfway towards improving the world, indeed we are downright hypocrites, like those of whom Jesus spoke in Matthew 23:23:

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.“ – And not to neglect love, as it says in the Gospel of Luke 11:42.

 

His coming into your life and through the reading of God’s Word in the Bible not only renews and purifies and regenerates your spirit, but it also renews your mind, breaking old connections and reflexes, and gradually giving you a whole new outlook on life and new reactions to nearly everything around you (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 12:2). This is what it means to be “born again” in spirit so that you become a “new creation” in Christ Jesus, with old things being passed away and all things becoming new (John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

It’s impossible for you to make such a change as this by yourself. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). If you want this change, it’s necessary for you to ask Jesus to come into your heart. He’s the One who makes “new creations.” All you need to do is ask Him to come in, and then He works the miracle.

Some changes are instantaneous; others take a while. But if you’re saved (have received Jesus) and truly want Jesus to change you, you’ll be changed—because Jesus changes people! – David Brandt Berg

Not Conformed!—Renewed and Transformed!

It’s certainly true that the Creator designed each of us with a variety of traits and characteristics. This includes likes, dislikes, habits, opinions. Yet our Maker wasn’t content to simply “leave us be” once we were created. He happily transforms, changes, and renews us—giving us the chance to become better, happier, and more like Him.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” If we are open to it, God will do it through his word if we read it and strive to apply it in our lives.

I am aware that this transformation process is something that will continue to happen throughout my life. I need to submit to Jesus and allow Him to do “His perfect work.” And as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here!”—Steve Hearts