College basketball is such a great sport – especially with the excitement surrounding March Madness each year. I’ve always had a tough time accepting the fact that players don’t get paid (legally), while the administrators, schools, networks, and coaches make all the money.
There has been an ongoing debate about college athletes being paid and how to structure this billion-dollar industry. But regardless of which side you’re on, there is no denying that monetary corruption permeates the sport.
Another scandal broke this week involving a two-year FBI investigation…Adidas…
College basketball has been flipped upside down with ten people already arrested for bribery and fraud, along with many other issues being revealed across the sport.
This news has everyone talking and asking questions like these: Do shoe companies really have this much influence on where players go to college? How much money is being exchanged under the table between these companies, agents, and coaches? Are college sports not as pure as they pretend to be?
Clearly, there are many layers of greed and corruption lying below the surface of buzzer-beaters and exciting upsets. Many schools are being implicated in the latest investigation (including Arizona, Auburn, Louisville, Miami, Oklahoma State, and USC), but it’s common to hear that “this happens everywhere” and “everyone’s doing it.”
Truth be told, those in and around college basketball recognize that corruption is just part of the culture. Many appear to readily accept it and are even willing to risk the consequences.
The rest of us may not want to admit it, but this mindset can also translate to areas of our own lives. How many times did we tell our parents, “everyone is doing it” when we were kids?
Unfortunately, this still continues as the lines between right and wrong are blurred by our culture…and immorality becomes acceptable by those around us.
What used to be considered wrongdoing is now commonplace. And even when faced with consequences, we often don’t refrain because we feel pulled to “keep up” with society.
As followers of Jesus, however, we must take an honest look at our perspective on sin and make sure we are viewing right and wrong through the lens of the Bible instead of cultural influence.
Are we justifying the sin in our life because “everyone else is doing it” or standing on truth and integrity? Are we accepting the norms based on the media or truly living the way God commands us?
Today, let’s be encouraged to do what’s right – even if everyone around us is participating in what the culture deems acceptable.
Meditating on Ephesians 4:17-24 (NLT) will help us remember our new life in Christ:
“With the Lord’s authority, I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
“But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it’s easy justifying sin when those around me find it acceptable. I pray I would lean on You for wisdom and guidance in knowing what is honorable and pleasing to You. I pray I’d live a life of obedience and integrity. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
