My Hope and Prayer for LeBron
"How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God...With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible" Mark 10:23,27
I have had the opportunity to see LeBron James play in person several times. He is truly a phenomenal athlete! His combination of size, speed, strength, agility and quickness is without peer in the history of the NBA. He seems to be a team player, and, in many ways, mature beyond his age of 25. He appears to genuinely love his hometown of Akron, OH and shows continued loyalty to his childhood friends and coaches.
The frenzy that is surrounding his free agency and signing has reached a fever pitch, with the one hour TV Special on ESPN tomorrow night (Thursday, July 8). I personally hope he stays in NE Ohio. Of course I would like to see LBJ stay with the Cavs and win an NBA Championship (or 6).
I hear a lot of my Christian friends talk about LeBron with such venom and, dare I say it, hatred. We don't even know the guy! They say, "He is so arrogant!" Try being humble when you have been told, "you are the best, you are the greatest!", since you were 13 years old. It would be tough to be humble if, every time you drove to your office, there was a twelve-story banner of you staring you in the face, on the building across the street.
LeBron is 25 years old. "But, he is 6' 8'' and weighs 260lbs!" He is 25 years old. "He makes millions and millions of dollars!" He is 25 years old. "He is probably one of the most recognizable human beings on the planet!" He is 25 years old. I have two children older than LeBron. I cannot help but look at him, and think like a father. I would hope he could stay close to his family and his roots. At best, he will have another 12 years in the league, with his whole life ahead of him.
I don't know if LeBron is truly saved or not. Some life-style choices he has made are inconsistent with that of a devoted Christ-follower. But with all his talent, all his fame, all his wealth, I cannot help but wonder, when he lays his head down on his pillow at night, does he ever wonder, "What lack I yet?" I actually hope he does wonder that.
How would Jesus respond to LBJ? I see much of the rich, young ruler (RYR) in Mark 10, in LeBron James. And we know how Jesus responded to him, "Looking at him (Jesus) loved him" (Mark 10:21). We want to jump right to the part where Jesus told the RYR to sell all he had and follow Him. But before that, Jesus looked at the RYR and loved Him! I don't know all that the Lord would ask LBJ to do, but I know that He loves him.
But I also know this. It is very difficult for people with LeBron's talent, charisma, wealth and fame to see their need for salvation. It is easy for them to be blinded and deceived by the riches of this world. Even the Lord Himself said, "How hard it is fo those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24). But Jesus also gives this word of hope, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible" (Mark 10:27).
So here is my hope and prayer for LBJ. I hope that, whether he stays, or whether he goes, he was a life-changing experience with the Lord Jesus. I pray the Holy Spirit apprehends his heart and that LeBron repents and comes, empty handed to the Savior. I don't want to see LBJ saved and radically following Jesus for what LeBron can do for Jesus, but because of what the Lord Jesus can do for LeBron. If his best opportunity for that to happen is in another city, I pray he goes. But, if it is here, I pray he stays.
Again, he is a 25 year old young man. LBJ, "remember your Creator in the days of your youth."
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