by Shannon Caughey

Consider this observation from FCA’s 360 Coach curriculum: “A big issue in sports is that we are more enamored by greatness than we are by goodness.” Sports tends to reward performance excellence—even if the coaches and athletes driving this performance have significant moral deficiencies. But what matters most in God’s eyes: being great or being good? Is the goal of our coaching only to help athletes achieve greatness in performance, or are we also focused on helping them grow in moral virtues?

In this series of devotions, we’re considering how to be a godly coach according to what 2 Peter 1:3-7 teaches us. We’re utilizing the definition for “godliness” provided by Jerry Bridges in The Practice of Godliness: “devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to him.” In the last devotion, we saw that God initiates and enables godliness in us. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him…” When we respond in faith to Jesus Christ and what he’s done to rescue us from our sins and reconcile us to God, we come to know the Lord through a relationship with him. He gives us his power and his promises (v. 4) so that we can grow in godliness.

In v. 5 of 2 Peter 1, we’re called to action: “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.” We partner with the work God is already doing, living out devotion to him in ways that result in a life pleasing to him. In the rest of v. 5 and continuing through v. 7, Peter lists several qualities that we must make every effort to pursue. Here’s the first (v. 5b): “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence.” Growth in godliness comes as we grow in goodness.

This goodness or moral excellence flows out of our faith in Jesus. Peter’s directive to “supplement your faith” is a call to make sure our commitment to Christ is not merely something we talk about. Jesus said, “A tree is identified by its fruit… A good person produces good things from the treasure of a good heart” (Luke 6:44, 45). Reflecting the teaching of Jesus, James 2:14 asks, “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions?” Genuine faith in Jesus leads to a life being transformed by Christ. This transformation includes the fruit of goodness, reflecting the character of Christ.

The standard, then, is the moral excellence of Jesus. Godly living and godly coaching require making every effort to think, speak, and act as Jesus would if he were in your situation. How do you do this? Foundationally, it involves getting to know Jesus more deeply and drawing closer to him. There is no substitute for regular time meeting with the Lord through studying his Word and talking with him through prayer. Jesus will show you his moral excellence, increase your desire for moral excellence, and enable his character to take hold in you.

Making every effort to grow in goodness also involves thinking practically about what the moral excellence of Christ looks like in your setting. Jesus “never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone” (1 Peter 2:22). Moral excellence means resisting the temptation to rationalize certain sins—whether your own sin or the sinful behavior of those you coach. Pursue Christ’s holiness in all things, and encourage your athletes toward the Lord’s good design for them. Refuse to cut corners or sacrifice integrity to get a competitive advantage, even if plenty of other coaches are doing so. Seek to be upright in every relationship so that there’s not even a hint of anything taking place that would dishonor Jesus.

Devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to him includes making every effort to grow in moral excellence. Be a coach whose model and leadership encourage goodness, not just greatness. And remember, the Lord gives you everything you need for godly living and coaching. 

For reflection: Ask the Lord to show you the next steps needed for your growth in moral excellence. Commit to making every effort to implement these steps. Thank God for his power and promises, enabling you to live and coach in godly ways.