Long-Term Thinking

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft took place in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, with much of the evening providing relatively little shock and surprise.

As expected, the Raiders selected Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the top overall selection, giving Las Vegas a player they hope will be their franchise quarterback for years to come. 

And though there were perhaps a few minor surprises at the top of the draft, most of the selections made a lot of sense based on the teams' positional needs or the overall talent of the selected player.

All of that changed, however, when the Los Angeles Rams shocked observers by taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick.

The selection was truly surprising for a couple of different reasons. For starters, many people didn't view Simpson as a prospect who was worthy of consideration in the top half of the first round.

Although Simpson posted solid numbers in his final year with the Crimson Tide, he had only 15 career starts as a collegiate player, and his production toward the end of the season dropped significantly.

But what made the Rams' selection even more surprising than the simple fact that many would consider the Simpson pick a “reach” based on value was that Los Angeles already had the NFL's reigning MVP as its starting quarterback.  

Matthew Stafford absolutely torched NFL defenses last season, passing for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns on his way to earning the league’s highest individual honor. Such a performance led most experts to reasonably assume that the Rams had a solid quarterback heading into the draft.

Even so, the Rams decided to forego the typical strategy of selecting a player to fill an immediate pressing need in favor of a decision they believe will pay off in the long run.

This decision was clearly not about making a short-term move that would provide the Rams with a quick jolt, but about making a calculated decision they hope will provide stability and success for the franchise's future.

At the end of the day, we, as sports fans, can engage in a pretty interesting discussion about whether drafting Simpson was a wise move for the Rams, as there are compelling arguments on either side.

But as followers of Jesus, there's an important parallel between the Rams’ decision to suppress their short-term desires and their prioritization of long-term thinking.

Let’s be honest, it can be easy to make impulsive decisions based on our desires in certain instances. However, we must make choices that yield the best payout in the long run, even if they don’t provide “instant gratification” in the moment. 

This is particularly true when it comes to sin. Temptation offers us a false promise of instant gratification, yet delivers nothing but heartache and misery. 

On the flip side, when we choose to walk in obedience when our flesh is bombarded, it ultimately pays major dividends despite the lack of an immediate thrill.

Galatians 6:7-9 (ESV) says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Choosing to deny our flesh and walk in obedience by the Spirit's leading may not always yield instant feelings of gratification and pleasure. Still, the promise remains that such decisions ultimately lead to reaping "in due season." 

For believers, the call of the Christian life is to adopt a future-focused perspective. Scripture consistently calls us to think deeply about our eternal heavenly home so that we make decisions based on eternal truths rather than immediate urges.

Colossians 3:2 (NASB) tells us, “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”

One way this principle might play out is in our daily decisions about how we spend our time. 

When we have a free moment, we have no problem choosing instant gratification. We can flip on the television, binge-watch our favorite shows, or endlessly scroll on our phones.

And while entertainment in moderation is not inherently sinful, the fact of the matter is that we'd be better off consistently making long-term decisions in those moments rather than simply choosing "instant gratification." 

Reading our Bibles, spending dedicated time in prayer, or listening to Biblically based sermons won't always give our flesh the same immediate sense of satisfaction we get from other activities. Yet, there's no denying that choosing to engage in spiritual disciplines is the best way to set ourselves up for long-term success in the Christian life.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV) says, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Today, let’s choose to be people who think long-term. Let's be intentional about making decisions that prioritize our maturity and growth as followers of Jesus, and about setting our minds on eternal matters rather than the fleeting issues of this temporary life.

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please teach me to be wise with the way that I live and spend my time. Please help me make decisions that show growth in godliness and allow me to live my life with a focus on eternal things. Thank you for the strength that You provide as I seek to follow You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.