Without a salary cap in Major League Baseball, big market teams can give enormous contracts to top players. They can load their roster with All-Stars because they have the money to do so.

As fans, we oftentimes complain because it seems unfair and lopsided when we’re rooting for a team in a smaller market.

However, the reality is that the teams with the top payrolls don’t always win the World Series, and small market teams like Kansas City and St. Louis have shown they can go all the way.

In this year’s World Series, we have a matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays (with the third-lowest MLB payroll) and the LA Dodgers (with the 2nd highest payroll behind the Yankees).

To put this in perspective, the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and Mookie Betts, have made approximately 93% of the entire Rays’ salary in 2020, according to Sporting News.

Loaded with talented and well-paid players, it’s not surprising that the Dodgers are back in the World Series for the third time in four years. They’re able to pay the players they develop, as well as, go out and sign free agents. But even though they have more money to spend compared to other franchises, they use it wisely.

At the same time, Tampa Bay has proven you can experience winning with a payroll much less than the majority of the league. Although I’m sure the Rays would love to have more resources and a larger payroll, it’s great to see a team maximize what they do have.

When it comes to our own perspective on money, many of us tend to believe the more wealth we accumulate, the happier we’ll be and it equals more winning in life.

I’m not against making money, but I think it’s a good reminder that even if we do have less money than others, we don’t have to just survive, we can thrive as good stewards who maximize what we’ve been given. Thankfully, winning in God’s eyes isn’t determined by the size of our “payroll.”

The Bible talks a lot about money and I think these verses can be an encouragement to our view of money:

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT) says, “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”

Proverbs 15:16 (NLT) advises, “Better to have little, with fear for the Lord, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.”

Last night, the Tampa Bay Rays evened up the World Series at 1-1. Regardless of their payrolls, both teams are effective and are given the chance to do something special with what they have.

Likewise, we can be effective and thrive with what we have. We just need to keep an open hand and heart to God and put our full trust in Him, asking Him to show us how we can be wise and good stewards of whatever amount He’s provided.

Remembering that it’s not about the size of our “payroll,” but rather what we do with it, is important. Today, let’s keep in mind the message of this convicting story found in Luke 21:1-4 (ESV):

“Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And He said, ‘Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You’d give me the proper perspective on money and that I wouldn’t spend so much time worrying about what I don’t have. Teach me to be generous and open-handed, as I know everything comes from You. Please help me to live a fruitful and thriving life rooted in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS: