We are less than 100 days until the start of the college football season and the first year of the new 12-team College Football Playoff. The expanded playoff will now include the five highest-ranked conference champions and the seven highest-ranked teams remaining. A sport known for its traditions has experienced tremendous change in recent years, and this latest alteration to the postseason has provided mixed responses. The biggest question is whether or not the regular season will have more or less meaningful games. On one end, more teams will fight for a spot in the playoff later in the year, resulting in more games where results matter at the end of the season. Previously, many teams started the season knowing they wouldn’t be a top-four team that made it into the playoffs. Yet, with more spots available, additional teams start the season to make it to the playoffs. On the other hand, some teams will already have clinched a spot in the playoff earlier in the season, with their final regular season games potentially being regarded as meaningless. That’s also true for any games involving matchups between teams eliminated from the playoff. Another way to look at this is how every regular season game (even with the changes) can have meaning and purpose for the players, coaches, and fans. As Ari Wasserman on theathletic.com writes, “The regular season will never be meaningless. This is college football. There’s too much passion around it.” It’s true that when two college football teams step onto the field, there is passion and meaning. Win or lose, there can be enjoyment in the journey, value in the process, and lasting relationships formed. With the proper perspective, every game matters for some reason, even if the result doesn’t. In our lives, we also wrestle with similar questions about whether or not the “regular season” is meaningless. On one end, we understand Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 (NIV): “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” Sometimes, we wonder if anything in this life matters and say, what’s the point? Conversely, some people are so consumed with the “regular season” that they find meaning and purpose in the results. For many, this life is a big deal, and a tremendous amount of importance is placed on success, wealth, human wisdom, power and authority, accolades, and winning. In the end, anything in life apart from God or done without Him is meaningless. Our selfish gain doesn’t matter and won’t truly satisfy us. Ecclesiastes 1:2 (AMP) puts it like this: “Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher. ‘Vanity of vanities! All is vanity .’” Like college football fans, however, we don’t have to disregard the “regular season” or view life as meaningless. As followers of Jesus, we’ve been given a purpose for this life, and with an eternal perspective, this life still matters. The exciting news is, “win or lose,” anything we do with Him and for His glory and purposes can be enjoyed and meaningful. We don’t need to focus on life's results but rather on the source of true life. Later in the book, Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (ESV) says, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?” Today, let’s enjoy life with God as we delight in Him, finding meaning and purpose in pursuing what matters to Him. Let’s enjoy His gifts, but never more than the Gift-Giver...and orient our lives around Him so they’ll become fruitful and meaningful. As the book of Ecclesiastes closes in 12:13 (AMP), “When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person.” I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that You’ll help me live a life of meaning and purpose as I seek You and enjoy everything with You. Teach me to keep an eternal perspective and not be consumed by selfish gain. You are worthy of my total devotion. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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