Sports Spectrum

Last year’s English Premier League season could not have started worse for the Liverpool Football Club. A new coach (largely unliked by the fans), a courtroom battle over ownership, new players, poor chemistry, and a general malaise brought the mighty Reds so low that, by midseason, they were in the dreaded relegation zone (bottom three teams of the twenty-team league). In January, with new owners in place, a new coach, legendary Liverpool star Kenny Dalglish, came in to right the ship. He moved the Reds up the table and into contention for a top-five finish—but the hole was just too deep. In spite of a very strong finish to their season, Liverpool could not overcome the hole that had been dug by a disastrously poor start. Now that the Premier League has kicked off a new season, the Reds are working to avoid a start similar to last year’s struggle.

The importance of a good start—whether it be in sports or in life—cannot be overestimated. A good beginning may not guarantee a good ending—but it makes it easier. Many a PGA Tour player has lamented that you cannot win a golf tournament in Thursday’s opening round, but you can certainly lose it on Thursday. A good start is vital to getting where you need to go. So, as followers of Christ, where do we begin?

When David’s son, Solomon, rose to take his father’s place on the throne, it was a time of beginning. The importance of a good start was critical. So, where did he begin? In 1 Kings 3, God came to the new king and offered to give him whatever he desired. Solomon’s request shows us the place where good beginnings begin:

“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)

Notice the elements of this good start for the young King. First of all, he recognized his weaknesses and limitations. Second, he recognized the mammoth size of the task at hand. Third, and most importantly, he understood the desperate need for a wisdom outside of himself. To his question, “Who is able to judge?” there is only one answer—God Himself. So, when he could have asked for anything he asked for the wisdom of God to direct him in the task ahead. It is always a good place to start if we will just take an honest assessment of ourselves and our situation, and then entrust ourselves to the wisdom of our God as we move into the task at hand. And when we do, we have the promise that if we ask God for wisdom He will supply it (James 1:5)—there is no better way to start!

Join us tomorrow on Sports Spectrum radio as we discuss the value of a good start.

Bill Crowder, Sport Spectrum Chaplain

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