‘THE BIG KICK OFF’

 For true football fans, the month of August cannot come soon enough. There has been the two month break since the end of the previous football season, and there is eager anticipation with the onset of the new season.

There will be fierce debate as to which team is going to carry off the major trophies, which player is going to score the most goals, and who will be the first manager to get the sack! Such matters may appear to be trivial to many, but for the red blooded football supporter they are matters of life and death. 

Whilst the pursuit of sport is a perfectly healthy pastime, we nevertheless need to get things into perspective. Millions of pounds will be spent in terms of saturation media coverage. Huge sums will be spent in the transfer market with players literally earning millions of pounds per annum, club directors will spend lavishly in seeking to build their corporate empires. 

Jesus warned against the danger of putting our trust in riches and in the gods of this world. Success can be temporary and can often be replaced by feelings of emptiness and failure. Jesus gave a solemn warning concerning the feverish pursuit of wealth and position:

 ‘WHAT SHALL A MAN PROFIT IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL, OR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?’

Each one of us should ask ourselves a very important question in these days of uncertainty; ‘Upon what foundation am I building my life?’ Jesus warned against the danger of building foundation upon sand as opposed to solid rock. Jesus is the ‘ROCK’ upon which we  can build our lives and know real peace and security.

Alistair Cole, Senior Minister, Elim Church, Glossop, Derbyshire, SK13 8BZ U.K.

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