If you’re a college football fan, you were probably intrigued to see the first rankings released by the College Football Playoff Committee last night.
Although there is still so much football left to be played, we can’t help ourselves. We want to know where our favorite team stands and how the committee views what our team has accomplished so far.
The top four teams right now are Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, and Penn State. Each team is undefeated and it’s clear there is value being placed on the Big Ten and the SEC conferences with two teams represented from each.
On the outside looking in is the 5th ranked Clemson Tigers. They happen to be undefeated and are the reigning National Champs, but their strength of schedule isn’t as tough as they play in the ACC.
Although these are just the first rankings, it’s understandable that Clemson fans would question why they weren’t included in the top four. However, as frustrated as they might be because they feel snubbed, they should keep the same perspective as their head coach Dabo Swinney.
Before the rankings were released he said this: “It just doesn’t matter. If we’re 2, 3, 4, 15, it doesn’t matter...it’s not worth the brain cells.”
He’s absolutely right. It doesn’t matter if they’re overlooked in November because if they keep winning and do what they’re supposed to do, there is no way the reigning champs will be left out of the Playoff. Not to mention, the teams ahead of them will have losses on their record soon enough because they play against each other.
I believe there is power in the phrase “it doesn’t matter” when it comes to football coaches setting the tone and making sure their players and themselves are not worrying about the wrong things.
This mantra, when used in the proper circumstances, can also be critical in our own lives. It’s so easy to get bent out of shape about unimportant things or dwell on being overlooked or left out. We can let the wrong things bother us and worry about unnecessary things.
But as followers of Jesus, we have to focus on what’s most important to Him and when we do what we’re supposed to do, we can view the distractions in life with the mantra, “It doesn’t matter...it's not worth the brain cells.” This mantra pops up a couple of times in the Bible: 2 Corinthians 8:12 (CEV) tells us, "It doesn’t matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have."
Colossians 3:11 (NLT) says, "In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us."
For Clemson, all that matters is winning the rest of their games on the schedule and making the College Football Playoff. For us, all that matters is loving Christ, following Him, and bringing Him glory.
So when other things try to steal our joy or take our attention away from what's most important, let's remember "It doesn't matter...it's not worth the brain cells."
Paul provides a great perspective in Acts 20:24 (NLT) when he shares his heart: "But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."
Now that's what truly matters!
I'm Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to live a life that truly matters and honors You. Please help me not to worry about things that don't matter and help me not be distracted by things that take my focus away from You. Thank you for your wonderful grace. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
Where in your life do you need to implement the phrase, "it doesn't matter"?
Why is it important not to worry about things we can't control?
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