Every year I eagerly anticipate the Super Bowl.  As I watched last Sunday, I was reminded of the Panther’s Saturday evening playoff game a few weeks ago.  With cold weather predicted and a four hour game ahead, I decided to risk the ridicule of friends from colder climates and to make some serious preparations. So, I stopped by K-Mart and bought a pair of jeans, some thermal underwear, some gloves and an unnamed item to warm my ears. After careful planning, I donned five layers of clothes, three of which sported the Panther logo.  I added the socks and boots and gloves and ear warmers, and I was prepared.  I joined tens of thousands of folks who paid for tickets, travel, parking, food, hot chocolate and so much more, and I cheered for the entire four hours as the Panthers enjoyed their final victory of the year.  I had a great time, and I would do it again.

But, I sometimes wonder about the time, energy and money that I gave to this pursuit.  Many folks believe that our most valuable resource is that of time, and I worry that we dedicate so much of it to our own enjoyment.  Yes, we all need entertainment to escape the pressures and hardships of our lives.  Entertainment can bring folks together, and it can bring a measure of happiness.  But, I must ask the obvious question—comparatively, how much time are we willing to give to the service and worship of our God?  Considering pre-game preparations, how often do we give considerable time to preparing our minds and hearts for serious theological reflection when we are not teaching or for a worship service that we are not leading?  How willingly would we dedicate four consecutive cold hours to serving God and God’s people?  What would happen if the millions of people who watched the Super Bowl thereafter dedicated that same amount of time and energy to praying for this world and to serving those in need?  How might our lives have new meaning and our communities experience new vitality if we served God as much as we watch football?  In the end, I am challenged to look in the mirror and to ask the question: if we rank our life priorities by an honest assessment of how we spend our time and energy, where does playtime rank on that list?  Where does God rank?  Hmmm…