The Bible and a Backyard Basketball Goal
I had the opportunity to play basketball in high school. I got playing time, not because I was that good, but because our team was that bad.
But, our ineptness as a team allowed me to play. I learned some things from my basketball experiences. I learned that a player does not get better by signing up to play on a team. A willingness to play does not improve one’s playing abilities. And, surprisingly, a player does not get a lot better by going to practice.
In basketball, the practices are for the TEAM to get better, not the individual players to improve drastically. The only way an individual player gets significantly better is for him or her to go out into the backyard (or wherever a basketball goal is) and shoot lots and lots of times and work on dribbling for lots and lots of hours.
Personal skills are going to get better at the backyard goal, not necessarily at the team practices.
Our Christian lives work in a similar way. Some people think that all they need to do is sign up for a team, that is join a church, and they will grow spiritually. Not true. Just signing up does not grow your walk with the Lord very much. Others think just going to some or all of the practices, that is the Sunday worship services, will grow them in the Lord. Not true. Just showing up does not grow your walk with the Lord very much.
By far, the most important component of how much a Christian will grow in the Lord is how consistently that Christian is in the backyard shooting baskets, that is finding somewhere quiet to dive into God’s word and pray. Your personal growth will depend on your personal time spent in God’s word, the Bible.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, CSB).
Scripture is what God uses to “complete” us and “equip” us. We are completed, changed, grown, shaped as we read the Bible and let the Holy Spirit teach us and mold us to be more like Christ through His word. We are equipped, prepared for what’s ahead, as the Bible works in us to get us ready for the path that God has for us to travel.
No other method exists for us to grow in Christ than His word and prayer. If you are going to grow in Christ, it will be because you are faithful in and hungry for spending time with the Lord through His word and talking to Him through prayer. You will have to go in the spiritual backyard (your quiet place) and shoot spiritual baskets (read the Bible) daily to improve your walk with the Lord. Nothing else will work.
(Send responses to jeff.perkins@mbclife.org.)