I Do Count Them (Sports) as Dung – That I Win Christ

I was born and raised in Philadelphia. And I was a big sports fan. In my house, depending on the season, the Sixers, Phillies, or Eagles were on the TV. My dad was situated in his chair, a beer next to him (and plenty in the fridge), along with a pack of pall mall. He would take a big gulp of Schmidt's beer and exclaim, "How sweet it is". And we would watch the game together. That was our family experience. And I know the experience of many families around us.

But by God's grace over the course of time, the Lord brought His Word, the Bible (the Gospel), to me. And He began to teach me many things about His law and about this world.

One of the things I came to learn was that Sunday was His holy day. A day He had set aside for His worship alone. And to tell you the truth, to my sorrow at the time (because I loved sports), I learned that it was not a day to play or even to watch football or any other sport.

As time has gone on, the love of God has replaced my love of sports. And I do not miss it. I can say of Philadelphia sports teams what Paul was moved to declare of things in his past:

Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,