I personally work everyday with high school athletes and I tell them they are in their crazy years right now. Meaning the pressure they feel to fit in and be liked will never be greater or seem crazier! So the topic of ‘What is true success comes up’.

I tell them God naturally wants them to succeed and that true success is being faithful.

Let’s take a look at a story in the Bible called the Parable of the Talents to see this principle carried out. It is found in Matthew 25. (A talent was a large sum of $)

The master gives five talents to the first servant, two to the next and one to the last, each according to his ability. The master then leaves and returns some time later to settle accounts. One by one the servants come. The first servant’s five talents have become ten, and the master responds, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” The next servant comes and his two talents have become four and he gets the exact same praise, “Well done my good and faithful servant!” But the last servant has done nothing with the one talent given him so he is rebuked sternly by the master.

So, what is success in God’s eyes? It is predicated not on where we finish but on what we have done with what He has given us!

What freedom this can bring to all of us young and old! This is perfect justice! We don’t have to compare ourselves to others and God won’t compare us to others! Instead, we just do the best we can with what God has given us whether we’re a coach, athlete, father, or husband and God is pleased.

We need to free up ourselves, our family members and the young athletes we coach with this principle. Good luck!!