Boxer a True Fighter
So I have heard a lot of comments this morning on social media following the “Big Fight.” Some were happy some were angry. Some supported Mayweather and some McGregor. As for me I am not much of a fight fan. But I can appreciate the training and conditioning that goes into it. These fighters train for months and sometimes years to be ready for these matches. And there is obviously a huge following of these kinds of matches based on my social media feeds. And as I stated I can appreciate that.
So my question to my two readers is if as fans we can appreciate or follow or simply be a fan of these “fighting” sports then why can we not apply these same principles in our lives? Why can we not fight for our marriages? Why can we not fight for relationships within our families? Can’t we apply the same principles? We need to condition ourselves to deal with other people. We need to train in patience and love for others. There is no difference. In life there are many things worthy of the fight. How would it look if there was a boxer who entered the ring and threw a few punches and then just threw himself down on the mat and quit? What would the fans think? How would he/she be veiwed? As a quitter? How could they? Why would they? Doesn’t even seem fathomable, does it? The difference is sadly we are more passionate about our hobbies and the sports we watch than we are for our relationships with others. We aren’t willing to fight for what’s good. We aren’t willing to train (put time in) and condition (read/learn) how to peacefully/lovingly deal with others. If somehow we could develop the same level of passion for others that we have for the sporting events we would have a better world.
This can also be applied in our work environment. I have a landscaping company and have operated for 17 years. Over the years it has been a complete struggle to find employees that have work ethic, employees that actually want to work. We have become a society of me. What’s in it for me? Why do you think this is? Well I would be bold enough to say it is the same answer to our marriage problem. PRIDE. We are to proud to admit fault, To proud to work for someone and just to proud to work at anything. What does the Word say about this Pride?
Prov 8:13 Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Amos 6:8 “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds,
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life — is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
We see here that God despises pride. God cannot work in us if pride is present. Therefore we must lay our pride aside and be humble. Admit our faults and seek Him and he will guide our paths.
So in conclusion I will say this, if we must fight let us fight for what is right. Let’s fight to save our marriages and let’s fight for Christ. Put on the gloves and train. 1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Let’s run the race that was set before us. Let’s protect the bond of marriage. And let’s love our neighbors as ourselves. We can and we will change this nation. One at a time. Will you be bold? Will you stand up? Will you?
I pray for all of you that God may grant you peace, the He may give you strength and that you may not lean on your own understanding!
God bless you all,
Mike Pickerill