European Idols

By midnight tonight East African Time, many will be weeping in pain and horror and myriad others will be congratulating each other and possibly shedding tears of joy. The match between Manchester United and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final will probably have come to an end and one of those two teams will have won a double of their league title and the cup on offer tonight. Here in Kenya, some will lose their temper and hurl insults and probably other objects at opposing fans while some will show more sportsmanship and graciously shake the hands of the winning team’s fans.

 One thing that will definitely happen tonight is that the day will end and the events in London on that famous Wembley pitch will not have affected the fuel prices or the rate of inflation in our land. (Wayne) Rooney and his cohorts at Manchester will not donate part of their immense salaries to my favourite charity nor will (Lionel) Messi and his armada fatten my bank account. They will do what they love doing, and are paid to do and then go home to enjoy their success, or lack thereof. Whether they win or lose tonight, every single member of the two teams on display tonight will have earned a place in the annals of football history as successes in their own right.

We indulge our favourite teams and footballers with our time, emotions, energy and finances. We revere them to the point of near idolatry. We research more about them and the game than we do about our own family history or the life of Paul the Apostle. We prefer to brave the bitter chill of the night to watch the game, even risking possible muggings on the way home from the game, yet it would be a challenge to get us to attend an evening service in a cosy church. We buy team jerseys at more than a thousand shillings, yet consider buying a good Bible a costly investment. There are many ways we could show God how much we care about Him, or how much we don’t care about Him. I have noticed that my obsession with the ‘beautiful game’ has eaten into my adoration for my risen Saviour.

How is it with you? Perhaps you haven’t reached my levels of infamy, but there could be something or someone that has gradually replaced God as the sole focus of your life. This could be your spouse, your romantic involvement, your career, your education, your favourite soap opera or TV series or your hobbies. For some of us, the work we do for God in the name of ministry could have become our god. I think a self assessment is necessary, if for no other reason, just to allow us time to focus on God a little more than we normally would. Food for thought.