by Shannon Caughey

In our present sports culture, many athletes and coaches are focused on self-promotion. It’s often about “doing what’s best for me” and “making sure I get noticed.” This is reinforced by the prevalence of social media. But Jesus turns this upside down. The path to greatness in his kingdom is through serving others.

That’s why “serving” is one of the four biblical values that we as FCA desire to define us and drive us. We firmly believe these same values are foundational for coaching in ways that honor Christ and enable you to have significant long-term impact on your players. As we begin a new year, we’re reviewing these four values. In the last devotion we looked at the first value, integrity, which is being committed to Christ-like wholeness in every area. Now let’s consider the second value: serving.

To serve is to genuinely care about the needs and interests of others, and to take action to address those needs and interests. Jesus provides the ultimate model of and motivation for serving. Referring to himself as the “Son of Man,” in Mark 10:43b-45 Jesus says, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus is the Son of God and Lord over all. His use of the title “Son of Man” is a subtle reference back to one called a “son of man” in the Old Testament book of Daniel, a figure entrusted by God with authority, glory, and sovereign power (Dan. 7:13-14). Even though Jesus is most deserving of being served, he chooses to serve others and to give his life to meet our deepest need—the chance to be rescued from what we deserve for our sinful rebellion against God and to be reconciled to him.

Jesus directs his followers to emulate him and live out this value of serving. For serving to become a value that is truly part of the culture of your team, it starts with you, Coach. Here are two key questions to consider (from FCA’s book Serving):

1. Do I tend to be self-serving, or am I genuinely serving others?

The “default” for most of us is to look out for our own needs and interests. To serve, we must instead embrace self-denial. As Paul puts it in Philippians 2:3, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” The author of FCA’s book Serving writes, “That is why serving is costly, not convenient. Sacrifice is always a key ingredient!” Does your coaching and your life reflect a willingness to sacrificially serve your players and others rather than pursuing a self-serving agenda?

2. Do I have an insecure heart, or am I secure in my identity in Christ?

As the author of Serving puts it, “The more insecure we are, the harder it is for us to serve, because we will always want others to serve us and meet our own needs. Only people with a secure heart can serve. Serving is forged out of a heart that is yielded to Jesus, and their identity is in Christ!” Do you coach and live out of the security of who you are in Christ, enabling you to give yourself to serving others rather than “doing what’s best for me”?

Out of gratitude for how Jesus serves you, resist the push toward self-promotion that can impact you and those you coach. Instead, gladly serve others. Take action to address the needs and interests of those around you. When this value defines you and drives how you coach, it transforms the culture of your team. Your athletes have a great chance to grow in this value as well because of the Christ-like model they experience in you. Greatness in what truly matters—Christ’s kingdom—is realized through serving.

For reflection: How central is the value of serving in the way you approach coaching? Take a moment to thank Jesus for serving your deepest need. Ask him to grow you as a servant-hearted coach.