This weekend’s football was not pretty. There were lots of penalties, poor performances, numerous injuries, and plenty of blowouts with teams being outmatched.
Nothing, however, compared to the lopsided game between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. The reigning champs dominated 43-0 as they scored multiple times on offense and defense.
We know the Patriots are still the team to beat this year, but the intriguing story is what’s going on in Miami. They have already traded most of their good players (with the remaining ones wanting to be dealt) and didn’t sign any top free agents during the offseason.
They’ve started the season 0-2 after being outscored 102-10, rank last in the league in offensive yards, as well as yards given up on defense, and on Sunday lost more yards because of being sacked (44) than rushing yards gained (42).
The Dolphins clearly don’t have a strong team this year, but there's an understanding that it's intentional and they want to lose.
Since 2009, they have only won 6-8 games every year (except for 2016 when they won 10) and have been an average to below-average football team. They believe a full rebuild is needed (which includes losing), and have hopes of drafting a franchise quarterback with a top pick.
As much as fans and media realize that temporarily losing this season can result in a prized draft pick and future winning, there is still great pushback and criticism.
There's outrage over the Dolphins front office setting up new head coach, Brian Flores, to lose this badly. No player wants to be associated with their team trying to lose and fans shouldn’t have to pay to watch this happen.
Sports is all about winning, so how could purposely losing be a good thing?
Just as counterintuitive as it seems for the Dolphins to want to lose now in order to win later, Jesus actually encourages His disciples with a similar approach.
In Matthew 10:38-39 (AMP) He says, "And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it , and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it .”
When we hear this, the pushback is similar to the people responding to the Dolphins. Why would we want to lose? Why would we choose to lose? Isn’t the point of life to be successful, gain wealth, become known, build our dream home, and be happy? We want to win...and we want to win now!
But, just as the Dolphins see the bigger picture and believe the sacrifice of losing now will benefit their future, we too must recognize that losing our selfish desires and giving up our temporary pleasures can lead to much more victory in the future.
When we make the switch from valuing eternity more than this brief life on earth, the way we approach each day will drastically change. People may question the amount of “points” we give up or the “sacks” we take, but if our losing has a purpose, then we’ll express a willingness to endure whatever may come our way.
As true followers of Jesus, our hope isn’t in this “season” but in the one that will last forever. So today, let’s choose to lose in order to ultimately win.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it’s hard to give up the pursuits of this world. I feel the pressure to win now and be successful in this life. However, help me sacrifice my temporary pleasures and selfish desires in order to live with and for Jesus. Teach me to understand what I need to lose in order to gain what’s most important. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What do you think of the Dolphins' approach of losing in order to rebuild and eventually win?
What would it look like for you to lose in this life in order to live for Jesus and sacrifice what He asks you to?
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