What does God say about sports?
The question is, “What does God say about sports?” Or maybe it’s better to ask, what do we think God says about sports?
Sports and its relationship to God is an issue that is often asked and ignored. It’s very easy to separate the two. The argument being sports is not significant enough to merit such a discussion. But sports is a multi-billion dollar business and often parallels the issues we have in society. To first understand the relationship between God and entertainment, we must first define what sports competition is.
Defining Sport
A sport is a physical athletic pursuit for entertainment that requires a level of competition, such as running, wrestling, boxing, MMA, football, or basketball. Some sports and many kinds of competition are called games or sports. People from differing backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures play sports with friends, strangers, and foreign competitors.
Typically these athletes or competitors will need development staff, trainers, or mental coaches to teach, inspire and train athletes and teams on how to perform under stress circumstances, how to endure, overcome and maintain strength during the competition or race. Activities that require physical activity mental focus to succeed is what you should define as a sport.
Consequently, other types of competitive games that do not require considerable physical skill, movement, activity, and effort cannot be called a sport. Quite often, these types of games require high levels of chance or luck, and cannot be called a sport.
Instead, they are games, such as gambling, cards, and marbles. These are not sports but rather games. Competitive sports require physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional effort, and will most likely need a teacher, coach, or trainer to get the best from the athlete. A sport will require skill, physical energy, endurance, and place you under stress.
This is significant in that God should be a teacher in all things. So sport should be used as a way to train, teach, and test us to be better servants to our families, community, and the world.
New Testament Biblical Reference of Sport
The clearest scripture that relates to this is:
Hebrews 12:1 – 2 KJV
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What was the first sport in the Bible?
The first mention of physical activity that is directly related to sports in the Bible is “running.” But “wrestling” was the first sport mentioned in the Bible.
In Genesis 18, Abraham ran to meet the three men at the door. The significance of running meant that he wanted to be first. The first to honor the person that was first to exhibit the character of God. Remember, sport is a physical activity between another party or yourself. If you run a mile by yourself for the time, it could be considered a game, as time is your competition. In this instance, Abraham strived to be a better servant to God by exerting physical, mental, spiritual and emotional energy,
Genesis 18 King James Version (KJV)
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
Genesis 30 King James Version (KJV) – Wrestling
Rachel wrestled with her sister. This was significant as she said she struggled against her sister and prevailed. So it was a competition of physical activity. Not sanctioned by an organization, but there was a clear difference between winner and loser.
“And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.”
Genesis 32 King James Version (KJV) – Wrestling
And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
How do you glorify God in sports?
The best way to glorify God in sports is to use the game to show the power of God in your life. You can be an example of how to overcome challenges, unforeseen circumstances, struggle, loss, and how to succeed with humility.
Sports is one of the places where masses of people meet on any given day to watch an event and celebrate their favorite team. An athlete can glorify God by being an example of how to put sports in perspective. At the same time, entertainment and games are a significant part of society; they do not supersede God, nor should we place sports as an idol above God. A great example includes a winning at all costs attitude while sacrificing divine commandments and principles that promote an organized, benevolent society.
Here are 2 Scriptures About Honoring God in All Things
1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 – And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
What Types of Sports were in the Bible?
Running, wrestling and gladiators were all mentioned in the Bible. This is one of the reasons the Olympics is such a significant event, as many Olympic games were taken from the Roman games. Rome is a derivative of the Babylonian empire of early Biblical times, so sport, or competition among men specifically, has a long history.
Laws divided the gladiators into groups, with shields, or heavily-armed fighters with smaller armory called Thraex, after their Thracian origin.
When does the Bible mention winning a prize?
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Is football mentioned in the Bible?
No, football is not mentioned in the Bible. On November 6, 1869, Rutgers and Princeton played what was billed as the first college football game. However, it wasn’t until the 1880’s that a great rugby player from Yale, Walter Camp, pioneered rules changes that slowly transformed rugby into the new game of American Football.
What does the Bible say about sportsmanship?
Humility
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Fairness and Integrity During Competition and Training
Proverbs 10:9 – He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
Limit Bragging and Boasting
Proverbs 27:2 – Let another man praise you, and not your mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
Playing Sports for the Right Reasons – Money Motivation
Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Playing Hard
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The NIV Version
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
The King James Version
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Does God care who wins?
After taking a look at many scriptures, it is clear that God looks at our physical experience differently than we do. Here is one scripture that provides clarity.
“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 KJV
5 Best Bible Verses for Athletes
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me
Colossians 23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Timothy 5
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
1 Peter 1 15
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
More articles about sports and winning in life!
What sport is mentioned in the Bible?
The mentions were wrestling and running in the bible
What is a good Bible verse for sports?
Here are three great scriptures for sports: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Philippians 4:13 Corinthians 9:24
Is Football mentioned in the Bible?
No football is not mentioned in the Bible. In the 1880s, Walter Camp from Yale is responsible for pioneering the rules that transformed rugby into what we now know as American football.
How do you glorify God in sports?
One of the best ways to glorify God in sports is to use the game to show the power of God in your life. You can be an example of how to overcome challenges, deal with adversity, and how to succeed with humility.
Does God care who wins?
After taking a look at many scriptures, it is clear that God looks at our physical experience differently than we do. Here is a scripture that provides clarity: 1 Samuel 16:7 reads, But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.