Rooting For Rivals: Pursuing A Higher MissionSample

Sloth vs. steadfastness

The YMCA was founded in the early 1800s to serve youth living in London’s slums. The organization centered on Jesus, and, fueled by that vision, grew exponentially. Yet over time, the Young Men’s Christian Association drifted from its Christ-centered foundation. Today, while the “Y” serves a valuable role throughout the United States and abroad, many who love its fitness programs and community outreaches know nothing of its founding principles. 

Yet there’s a little-known internal team at work to reclaim the YMCA’s Christ-centered mission. They serve steadfastly—in a posture of enduring hopefulness and ongoing commitment, even against seemingly insurmountable challenges. They refuse sloth’s temptation to give up, and they’re looking outside themselves, to local churches and parachurch ministries, for support.  

Dorothy Sayers writes sloth “is the sin which believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, loves nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and only remains alive because there is nothing it would die for.” Sloth causes us to believe that partnership is too difficult. Collaboration would be too costly. Generosity isn’t possible. 

But a slothful approach is not an option for Christians. We are privileged to know that God’s Kingdom is coming and hope is worth holding onto. Scripture is the story of God never giving up on us and His invitation to never give up on those around us. It’s a story of possibility empowered by the Holy Spirit.  

Even when the day-to-day realities of our work are disheartening, monotonous, even maddening, we need to hold fast to a Kingdom perspective. We need the joy and hope of understanding the role each of us plays in God’s ongoing work, as we learn to actively and steadfastly serve one another.   

When we root for our rivals, we find it’s not just good for the Kingdom, it’s good for us. Let’s glorify Christ through radical generosity. Let’s be people who long to see God’s Kingdom come, even as our earthly kingdoms fade. And let’s remember to cheer one another on in the process. We are in this together.

To fight the vice of sloth: 

1. Don’t let cynical thoughts take root.


2. Remember your why. Emphasize the heart of your mission to renew your enthusiasm.


3. Embrace the spiritual disciplines: prayer, fasting, worship, and studying God’s Word. 


4. Rally together. Work for God’s glory rather than any smaller cause. 

Thank you for completing this plan! For more devotionals by HOPE International, visit www.hopeinternational.org/youversion. For more information on Rooting for Rivals, visit www.rootingforrivals.com.