Formed by the Game: 30 Days of Seeing God in the Liturgies of SportNäide

The Scoreboard

The scoreboard is one of the most visible measures of success in sport. It lights up the arena, declaring winners and losers for all to see. Wins, losses, points, and statistics are tallied and displayed, and they often feel like the ultimate measure of accomplishment. Athletes chase numbers and personal bests, coaches track team rankings, parents celebrate milestones, and fans analyze every stat. The liturgy of the scoreboard teaches us that value is tied to performance. If the numbers are high, joy abounds. If the numbers fall short, the sting can cut deep.

But the scoreboard, powerful as it is, only tells part of the story. It cannot measure character, humility, perseverance, or love for others. It cannot display the unseen sacrifices, the integrity shown in defeat, or the courage it takes to keep going when results don’t go your way. Sport culture often disciples us into believing the scoreboard is final—that our worth and legacy rise and fall with numbers, records, and rankings. This liturgy, if left unchallenged, can enslave us to performance and leave us empty when the numbers don’t add up.

The gospel offers a redemptive flip. Jesus reminds us, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” The truest measure of life is not found on a scoreboard but in the eyes of God. Success in His kingdom is not recorded in points, wins, or trophies but in faithfulness, obedience, and love. The cross is the place where victory was secured once and for all—not through statistics, but through sacrifice.

Next time you glance at a scoreboard—whether in a stadium, in your career goals, or in your daily life—treat it as a liturgical reminder. Ask: What story am I letting this scoreboard tell me? Am I chasing fleeting accolades, or cultivating what lasts forever? God can use the pursuit of excellence to form discipline and joy, but He calls us to anchor our worth in Christ, not in numbers.

Prayer:
“Lord, help me to see beyond the scoreboard. Teach me to value what lasts forever, to pursue Your approval above all else, and to live with an eternal perspective in sport and in life. Amen.”