God really does care about the game

Today, I rise in defense of the idea that God does indeed care who wins the football game.

It’s not that God has a favorite team. It’s not that God grants victory to the team that prays the best or has a believer for a coach. Jesus isn’t wearing anyone’s jersey.

With all that said, God still cares about wins and losses. The reason they matter is each game involves a whole bunch of people who were made in God’s image. The Bible says that God cares about the smallest details of all of those image-bearers.

Listen to the way Jesus talked about this:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10:29-30)

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)

God is mindful of your most basic, daily needs to such an extent he encourages you to put these in his hands and not fret about them. He knows how much hair you lost yesterday. It’s safe to conclude from this that God cares about the details.

When people say, “God doesn’t care who wins the game,” I wonder how big a thing must be before they think God cares about it?

I mean, when you say he doesn’t care about the game, you understand there are thousands of people who work in high school, college and professional sports whose ability to put food on the table depends at some point on wins and losses, right? God doesn’t care about that? The loss in the state finals that causes a coach to be fired and have to relocate his family — God is unconcerned? Or the Pee Wee league game that will force kids to deal with issues such as teamwork, fair play and grace in both victory and defeat cannot possibly be anything that God cares about?

If God doesn’t care about any of this, I wonder if you think he cares about anything at all. How important must a thing be in your life before you should bother God by praying about it?

The hairs of your head are numbered. You are encouraged to pray for daily bread. And the reason you are so encouraged is God considers you valuable.

I realize you’ve been indoctrinated into the belief your existence is a cosmic accident. Granted, it’s a happy accident, but you have no real purpose or reason for existence. This notion, my friends, popular as it may be among all the brainy people, is a lie.

You have value. Jesus paid an outrageous price for you. Even the details matter, including the dumb ol’ football game.

Gordan Runyan is the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Tucumcari. Contact him at:

[email protected]