In March 2016, thirty-six-year-old Adam LaRoche, the first baseman for the Chicago White Sox professional baseball team in the US, resigned after he was told not to bring his fourteen-year-old son into the team’s clubhouse as often as had been his practice. LaRoche walked away from a $13-million contract. Simply put, he refused to place money or fame before family. He announced his retirement in a tweet that read, “Thank u Lord for the game of baseball and for giving me way more than I ever deserved! #FamilyFirst.”
What kind of person so readily gives up that much money and fame?
I don’t think LaRoche could have walked away from so much cash or the other benefits that came from being a famous athlete without having done so incrementally. That one big decision was the result of many small ones. We can be assured that for years he’d practiced obeying and loving God and his neighbor as He provided the strength to do so (Matthew 22:38-39).
Like professional athletes who daily train in order to develop and maintain the physical and mental fitness and also the technical skills needed to consistently do well in their sport, so believers in Jesus are called to practice holiness. Paul exhorted Timothy to “train [himself] to be godly. ‘Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come’ ” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
When we say “yes” to God and “no” to selfishness—by remaining in Him, we cultivate the fruit of the Holy Spirit and continue our training in “godliness” (Galatians 5:22-23). God trains us in what it means to truly love Him and others—including fourteen-year-old sons.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Deuteronomy 31:1-8
More:
Read Philippians 3:12-14 and consider what it means to press on toward “perfection” in Jesus.
Next:
How has God been training you lately? How has He given you what you need to reflect Him and His ways better?
don777 on February 25, 2017 at 7:11 am
This is awesome it goes hand in hand with today’s Daily Bread.
Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
This is our purpose in life is to have a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. Every day all day. This is the number one commandment. +>i 🙂
Marlena Graves on February 26, 2017 at 7:32 pm
don777 – Amen!
Gary Shultz on February 25, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Great article Marlena. I had a reply all to go early this morning and the anti-virus shut my reply down. I did want to say, I liked it that much that we used it for our discussion this morning in our men’s group. I really like the part where you say, “one big decision was the result of many small ones”. So I’m getting back to you late in the day, but be it known it was a good one. Thanks Marlena
Marlena Graves on February 26, 2017 at 7:31 pm
HI Gary,
Thank you. I also wanted to let you know that I think the same thing about Jesus. HIs little obediences all throughout his life enabled him to stay on the cross and endure hell on our behalf. I think that’s why he could say from experience and in all honesty, “He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much.” Thank you for your encouragement and tell the group I said, “hello!”
glennwhitfield on February 27, 2017 at 9:22 am
I read ODJ everyday… I, generally, agree and enjoy every devotion. However, I think Mr. Laroche made his stand inappropriately. Baseball was his JOB. I cannot bring my children to work. While I agree with the “family first” message, I feel that we need to display a good work ethic and commitment to our employers. This is a poor example of the message that you are trying to communicate. His (Mr. Laroche) decision to “choose family first” was only made possible by his millions of dollars that he made while his team was tolerant of his child being present at practice. If all believers made this stand (the way that he did), we would have mass chaos. Family First thinking can be better displayed in a refusal to work Sunday’s, or missing an important meeting to be present for a child’s event. I make these comments respectfully… I welcome an opposing view.
Marlena Graves on February 27, 2017 at 10:37 am
Hi Glenn,
I thank you very much for your respectful comments. And indeed, you have some excellent points. I whole-heartedly agree that a poor person – I grew up very poor by American standards (which is still rich compared to the rest of the world), would have a hard time leaving their job. I am wondering if the stands we take are contingent on the circumstances God has put us in? When I read the story, I thought “Wow, he is giving up big money to do what he thinks is right. He is opening himself up to ridicule and criticism. Money and fame are not his gods.” And as I wrote, I don’t think he could’ve done it if he hadn’t been obedient in other little things.
In my own family’s life, my husband and I had to stand up against Christians who were lying, being unethical, and financially harming others. They were our employers. We do not have LaRoche’s income. In fact, we and many others who did the same thing (by that I mean, standing up against lying believers and their unethical behavior), lost our jobs. And many have never recovered. We couldn’t with a good conscience keep silent. I know there’s not an exact correlation to this baseball story. But, I can tell you that there were some who remained silent in order to keep their jobs. They feared not being able to provide for their family. What I am thinking, I guess, is that maybe it was deeper than family first. I don’t know. Maybe God was working in his life and this stand he took was an act of obedience. I think it was; but maybe his son being in the dugout was the motivation.
What makes me very happy is that you felt the freedom to make this comment. And even if you don’t agree with my reasoning, you were respectful. I can say that I learned from you and am willing to be wrong about it.
Many blessings to you, brother.
hsnpoor on March 4, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Beautiful reply and great reminder that we just don’t know the stories that drive the perspective and opinions of others.