Excessive Celebration?!?!

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

(1 Corinthians 10:31)

I love watching football!  We have season tickets to the University of Hawaii games, and it's such fun to follow the "Rainbow Warriors" during the fall season.  I also love watching NFL games - though I don't get to see many live, due to the hazards of being a pastor in Hawaii, when the games coincide with worship!

One of the big differences in the rules between the college & pro games is the "celebration rule."  Basically, there's absolutely NO CELEBRATING after a play in college (no matter how amazing it was)... while int he NFL, it can be done as long as it's not deemed "excessive."  So guys like Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco have a blast when they score a TD... or DE's celebrate after a sack... or RBs/WRs do a little "first down signal" after a big play.  Personally, I love it.  It's fun to watch (And guys like Chad get very creative sometimes in their celebrations!).

A few players will acknowledge God first.  Whether it's a simple gaze up to the heavens (sometimes with a finger pointing upwards, too)... or making the sign of the cross... or dropping to one knee in prayer... some players do give glory to God.  With millions of people watching, their first inclination is to credit the LORD.

The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, had never heard of American football, of course.  But he had heard of the various religious controversies that community was dealing with.  Problems with communion (people getting drunk on communion wine - in church!) and eating (especially food that had been sacrificed to idols, then resold in the marketplace).  Some people got all worked up over these situations.

Paul comes down with the following simple reminder: WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT TO THE GLORY OF GOD.  Whether it's eating a meal, playing sports, traveling on vacation, going to school, driving to work, etc.  Whatever you do - do it with a heart for God... so others who ware around you and see you came come to know the goodness of the LORD.  I don't think this necessarily means that we have to be verbal about everything (shouting "Praise Jesus!" all the time).  But a grateful & thankful heart can be contagious.  If nothing else, it will change us.

PRAYER: "Oh Lord, may everything I do today be done for your glory... not my own.  AMEN."