Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. Being one of my favorite athletes, I miss not being able to watch him compete anymore.

But now that his NBA career is over, I’m intrigued to find out what he ends up doing next, and if he’ll have similar success away from the court.

There’s no denying his work ethic, passion, and determination made him an elite basketball player, and it’s fair to think those character traits will translate to his new business endeavors.

At a recent event, he shared his mindset about approaching the next phase of his life:

“Fast-forward 20 years from now: If basketball is the best thing I’ve done in my life, then I’ve failed. It’s a very simple mission, very simple quest, very simple goal. These next 20 years need to be better than the previous 20. It’s as simple as that, and that is what drives me.”

There is a lot to unpack in his comments, and in many ways we can relate to them.

First of all, Kobe’s already accomplished greatness, yet feels it’s not enough and desires to do so much more. As we think about what drives us to be better and do more in life, do we buy the lie that we are never good enough and must earn God’s love?

Instead of resting in what’s been done for us through Jesus, do we feel like a failure if we aren’t always accomplishing something extraordinary? Do we put too much pressure on our own performance?

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Also, Kobe could easily hang out at home or travel the world with all of the money he made during his playing days, and never have to work another day in his life. But that’s not his mindset. He wants to continue to do great things – not just pack it in and sit by the pool.

Likewise, even though we don’t have to do anything else to earn salvation, as followers of Jesus we continue to do do great things for Him – not just sit on the couch and wait for heaven.

Kobe is driven to be exceptional at everything he does, and remains mission driven (“It’s a very simple mission, very simple quest, very simple goal.”).

As we know, God has given each of us an important mission, a very simple quest, and a very simple goal – to love Him and love others. Are we driven to be extraordinary at this mission? Do we rely on His strength to lead us and empower us to achieve what He’s asking us to do?

Jesus commands us in Mark 12:30-31 (ESV), “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

As we think about Kobes’ comments, “If basketball is the best thing I’ve done in my life, then I’ve failed,” let’s be encouraged to make the best thing we’ve done in our lives loving God and loving people.

Let’s be driven by that, and make the next 20 years even better than the previous 20. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that I’d be motivated to be great by doing what You’ve called me to do. I want to invest in eternity and spend my time on what will last. I pray I’d also rest in what’s been done for me because of Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.