Last night in college basketball, we saw a very unfortunate ending to the Kansas and Kansas State game. Kansas had a large lead in the closing seconds, but as they were dribbling out the clock, the ball was stolen.
DaJuan Gordon took the ball the other way and went up for a layup, but was blocked by Silvio De Sousa. Sousa then stood over him and stared him down. All of a sudden this ignited an all-out brawl that spilled into the crowd at Allen Fieldhouse.
Things escalated and got ugly very quickly with punches thrown, benches cleared, and fans finding themselves in the crosshairs of this mele.
The brawl peaked with a frightening moment as De Sousa held a stool above his head ready to use as a weapon before an assistant coach stopped him.
Players who got caught up in the moment and made hasty decisions face costly consequences that will ultimately affect their team moving forward (De Sousa is suspended indefinitely).
I’m all for rivalries and intensity, but when it elevates to such outrageous levels, it’s not a good look for the sport or for the individuals involved. Unfortunately, these types of fights seem to be happening in every sport lately.
But before we jump all over these athletes by pointing our judgmental fingers, let’s take a look at our own lives and consider the tension that might be brewing within us. If we aren't properly dealing with our own intense feelings, we might also make costly choices.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:11 (AMP), “A fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, but a wise man holds it back.”
How are we handling our own temper? Do we find ourselves getting into heated arguments or fights that uncontrollably escalate? What do we do when someone disrespects us, discredits us, or pushes our buttons? How do we react when we're wronged or when we feel the need to be combative about something?
Proverbs 29:22 (AMP) says, “An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.”
We need to look in the mirror to see how we respond to people who offend us or bother us or attack us in some way. When conflicts arise with our spouses, co-workers, strangers, and kids, do we have a grip on our tone and the type of words we use?
Do we understand what needs to be avoided before the fighting gets out of hand? Even if we will never find ourselves in a brawl with a stool in our hands, the principles remain the same for the situations we do face.
Proverbs 17:14 (AMP) gives us this warning: “The beginning of strife is like letting out water ; therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.”
As followers of Jesus, we must remember to ask God to give us wisdom when faced with conflict...and trust His Spirit to guide us into resolution and unity.
If we pause before reacting, we can be assured that He always provides a way out and gives us the power we need to overcome our anger. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me act in obedience when conflict arises in my life. I pray I wouldn’t try to resist within my own strength, but instead depend on You. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What is most likely going to test your temper?
How do you normally handle conflict and what do you do to overcome a fight that could potentially escalate?
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