What are the qualities that make a great basketball player?
Before I tell you what answer was given, a little background. I’m reading How Leaders Lose Their Way, revised and updated in 2025, by Peter Greer and Jill Heisey. It has been quite eye-opening. To write down all my highlights would take several pages. Here’s one: “Staying on mission requires effort, but our first effort must be to reframe our way of thinking, to recognize that entirely apart from our achievements, aspirations, and machinations, we are the beloved of God, who absolutely delights in His children: mess-ups, mistakes, and all.” (p. 47)
Now back to that opening question. That question was put to LeBron James. His answer? “Discipline. You have to sacrifice loved ones for a long period of time if you want to be great.” (p.47)
He set up a hierarchy: greatness above loved ones. I say, “Aaaah no.” Our love for achievement, our love to be first, fails the test of Matthew 22:37: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” (NLT) LOVE. GOD. FIRST. Not achievement. Not fame. Not fortune. Not your name in lights. Not to be known as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
Sorry LeBron. You may be a good basketball player, but in life, you got it wrong. The successful life, the valued life, the one worth pursuing is the well-ordered life: Love God first; love your neighbor second; love yourself last. I’ll share with you tomorrow about a couple in the book who got it right.
Until then…ask yourself what qualities make a great (fill in the blank)? Then go back to the litmus test of Matt. 22:37.
Amen and amen again! When we put God first in our lives, everything falls into place, just as it should. Great reflection, Bill!
Blessings!
Thanks Martha. You got the point! 🙂
Keeping God first in all things, we have to get our relationship right with God, or all other relationships will struggle. Its easy to say God is always first, but it takes work to keep your perspective correct. In my morning prays, I always ask God to help me to keep all my thoughts captive with Him, and to never put anything before Him. I know I cannot accomplish that without God’s help.
You are so right Gail. We cannot accomplish anything without His help. To think we can is foolish thinking.
I agree with you Bill. Loving God first is imperative in all things. Because it’s God who gives us our first and even final breathe.
Hi Ed! Loving God first must be an imperative.