Never Ever Give Up

During a World Series game in which the Atlanta Braves were losing, the TV camera caught several Braves players in the dugout laughing and joking. At the time the New York Yankees were beating them pretty badly.

It bothered me that these players could have a cavalier attitude, particularly since they had already played 164 games to win their division, beat Houston in 6-games to win the National League and now were playing for the championship of the world.

How could they be smiling and displaying such levity?

True competitors do not take losing lightly. Vince Lombardi, the great Green Bay Packer coach said, “Show me someone who doesn’t hate to lose and I will show you a loser.” Bear Bryant, the famous Alabama Crimson Tide coach said, “ Winning isn’t everything but it beats anything that comes in second.” And this writer once said, “ The game is not lost until the fat lady sings and, if she purses her lips to sing, slap her face.”

I have never enjoyed losing any contest, whether it be a game or another type endeavor. I played basketball at Perry under legendary Coach Eric Staples who was a fierce competitor. Ask any of his former players if they ever saw Coach Staples smile when Perry was behind. In fact, I never saw him smile when we were ahead.

He was always intense, striving for perfection, never being satisfied with anything short of total effort and unyielding determination.

I have played a lot of backyard basketball. We would choose sides before playing. I was always happy to be chosen on the same team with Larry Bailey. Larry was the one of the best backyard players I have ever seen.

That’s because no opponent had a stronger will to win than he. If his team lost, he didn’t get over it soon either. He was always ready to play another game for redemption. Larry for some reason never went out for basketball in high school, but were I in a position to play for all the marbles in basketball, I would want Larry Bailey on my team. He had the will to win and never, ever gave up. I admire that.

The will to win is important, but more important is the will not to sin. Every person has a temptation level at which he or she will succumb to the enticements to sin.

That level varies from individual to individual depending upon the closeness of his or her walk with the Lord. In Romans 7, Paul speaks of two opposing forces warring within us—the desire to sin and the will to be righteous. He laments the fact that we sometime fall captive to sin.

Joseph is an example of one who overcame great temptation. His brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites, who carried him to Egypt. There he became a servant of Potiphar, an officer of the king, who placed him in charge of his household. Because Joseph was young and handsome, Potiphar’s wife lusted after him and sought to go to bed with him.

He refused. One day she made a sexual advance, grabbing his robe. Joseph ran unclothed from the house. Potiphar’s wife claimed attempted rape, so her husband dealt harshly with Joseph, sending him to jail. But God looks after His own. Later, Joseph interpreted the king’s dream and was restored to great power as the Governor of Egypt.