We’re in the thick of football season, with gridiron greats at all levels donning pads and cleats and pushing the pigskin down the field. So what does the Bible have to say about this sport?

1. Philippians 3:13-14
   Sounding like a halfback dodging defenders, the apostle Paul wrote, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Great football players have that “goal line” vision,” focusing fully on their goal, and so can we.
2. Job 19:7-8, etc.
   Football’s a tough game, with fearsome obstacles. Sometimes it’s a thing of beauty, as a receiver soars to make a miracle catch. And sometimes it’s pretty ugly. Was the Psalmist describing a busted play when he wrote, “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about . . .” (Psalms 39:6)? Or was the prophet envisioning the plight of an awkward flanker: “You will fall in the open field” (Ezekiel 39:5)? But Job gives us a double football pun: “He has blocked my way so I cannot pass” (Job 19:8). And in case you’re looking for an interference call from the ref, one verse earlier we read, “Though I call for help, there is no justice.”

   Life is like football in that way. There can be great joy in the overcoming of obstacles, but also great frustration in the process. We’re blocked from achieving our goals, we rush about, and sometimes we just fall. Much of the Bible describes the difficulty of human life when we don’t rely on God’s support.

3. Psalms 108:13
   But what happens when you do ask for God’s help. With pre-game prayers and the “Tebowing” some players do, we might assume that both sides are angling for divine favor. With God on your side, how can you lose? As a Psalm says, “With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies” (Psalms 108:13). But you might be correct in wondering whether God really stands on one side or the other. Does he really care whether the Saints or the Lions come out ahead? (Maybe that’s a bad example.)
4. Proverbs 16:33
   God does care about our lives, and in his infinite wisdom he may cause one outcome or another. As a paraphrase of Proverbs reads, “We toss the coin, but it is the Lord who controls its decision” (Proverbs 16:33 LB). Yet, even beyond the coin toss, a football victory isn’t necessarily an indication that one team lived better or prayed harder.
5. 1 Corinthians 9:25
   After all, it’s only a game. The apostle makes this distinction clear: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:25). In our efforts to please the Lord, we need to dodge obstacles and move steadily to the goal. It takes perseverance and self-discipline. We can learn a lot about that from well-trained athletes, but the truth is that our“game” has eternal value.
6. Colossians 3:23-24
   This eye on eternity becomes important, then, no matter what we’re doing—playing football or watching it, or driving the kids to practice. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24). This is the real game. This is the real goal.
Extra Point: 1 Samuel 16:17
King Saul echoed the thoughts of every general manager, coach, and fantasy football enthusiast when he said, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me” (1 Samuel 16:17). He was actually looking for a musician, but he found young David, who turned out to be a pretty good athlete as well.

Don’t you want to be that “someone” who “plays well” in the only game that really matters?

All quotations NIV, except where noted.