June 11, 2010: Kickoff of the 19th football (soccer) World Cup in South
Africa. Generally considered one of the world’s premier sporting events,
along with the
Olympics, this is the first World Cup final ever held on the African
continent. Hundreds of thousands of lucky fans will be able to watch
the games live in the stadiums that were built or revamped for the
event, and billions more around the world are expected to follow
their team’s progress through the month-long competition via
TV, radio, and the Internet. It is the global celebration of what
Brazilian three-time Cup winner Pelé called “the beautiful game.”
Many of us enjoy kicking a ball around with friends, but there’s a
world of difference between that and playing professional football.
What did it take for those men to reach the World Cup in South
Africa? Extraordinary athletic ability, certainly, but that alone
did not guarantee their spot on the roster. No player is chosen to
represent his country in the World Cup final stage without having
first put in a lot of hard work. Each player has endured years of
rigorous, seemingly endless practice, suffered injury and pain, and
had to rise above other obstacles in order to have a shot at the ultimate
prize—being on the winning team at the World Cup. Those
who make it to the final stage have risen to the top of a wildly popular
and fiercely contested sport. Win or lose, coming this far is a
tremendous achievement. Most of the rest of us aren’t
world-class athletes, but we can apply these players’ secret
to success, as many of today’s self-help gurus and guidebooks
advocate. And they aren’t the first. Even the apostle Paul referred
to it. Comparing the Christian life to athletic achievement, he
wrote, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain
it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all
things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.
Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection.”1 Paul practiced what he preached, so as
his life drew to a close he was able to say, “I have fought the good
fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there
is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”2  
Perhaps no one exemplifies the blend of talent and tenacity
that mark world-class athletes better than Pelé himself. Growing
up in poverty in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, he earned
extra money for his family by shining shoes and honed his gift
using a ball made from a sock stuffed with newspaper. Considered
the best footballer of all time, he dominated the game for two
decades and was named the top athlete of the 20th century by the
International Olympic Committee, even though he never took
part in the Olympics.
And one final thought before I go and check the latest scores:
It’s natural to support our home team, but we should recognize
the efforts of all the players, no matter where they’re from. With
this type of competition, of course there are many more losers
than winners. After the first stage of the World Cup, half of the 32
teams are sent home, as are half of the remaining teams at the end
of each subsequent round until a winner is eventually crowned.
Obviously the players who don’t make it to the end are disappointed,
but they can take pride in how far they went and what
they accomplished.
And we each have a chance to do the same in the game of life.
 Jesus doesn’t say the faithful will be rewarded in heaven with the
 words, “That’s great—you beat the competition!” but with, “Well
 done, good and faithful servant!”1
 He commends us for doing our part; for playing with character
 and commitment, for doing our best with whatever gifts and tasks
 He has given us, and for loving those who He has put in our path.
 That, I think, is the most beautiful game of all.

 Ronan Keane is a member of the Family International and
 an Activated contributing editor.


 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
 2 Timothy 4:7–8
3. Matthew 25:21