The Humbling of Olympians

Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16.18

I can think of few things I would less rather be than an Olympic favorite. Four years of hype and publicity and sycophantic hangers-on all building you up as your country’s champion, and the best in the world at what you do, and then your typically less than fifteen minutes in the spotlight (With the exception of cross-country events), which many more times than not, end in disappointment, if not a disaster.

The rinks and slopes of Vancouver have, like every Olympic venue, witnessed their share of the great, and often painful, falls of dozens of Olympians. Just a slight bit off-center, and a figure skater tumbles onto the ice. The barest tip of a ski catches a slalom gate, and years of hope and grueling training go sprawling off the course. Sleds tip over, goals sneak in the net or just miss the crease, the edge of a snowboard snags; they all add up to the destruction of dreams of Olympic medals, and sometimes the cruel criticism of a nation of fans who proudly invested in what was expected, almost promised, to be a world triumph.

Of course pride is not the exclusive domain of athletes, or even of the famous. Most of us have a tendency to be rather impressed with ourselves. This is not to say that either false humility, or a poor self-image, is in any way less destructive than pride. But the Bible seems to single out pride for its capacity to deliver us to sudden and calamitous comedowns. You have heard the saying, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall;” when “they” refers to egos, the falls can be hard and huge. Even worse, our pride sets us up as adversaries of God. (See James 4.6; 1Peter 5.5)

Chariots of Fire, is the cinematic treatment of the story of Eric Liddell, the “Flying Scotsman” who ran because when he did he felt God’s pleasure. Liddell participated in the 1924 Paris Olympics not for fame or for profit, but that God would be glorified in his running. As a missionary and speaker Liddell’s athletic accomplishments earned him a greater audience, enabling him to bring many nearer to Christ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-AzB7e

Of course, most of us will never be Olympians, but we can nonetheless employ the gifts God has given us both for his pleasure and glory, and the filling up of his kingdom. The key is to never become so enthralled with our gifts, that pride causes us to forget the Giver. Whether we ski or run, or perform music, or teach, or sell real estate, or run a business, whatever we do, we have the opportunity to make a name for ourselves, or to magnify the name of God. We can choose the path of pride, and suffer the inevitable fall, or we can honor God and humble ourselves, and experience the glory of being lifted up by Him.