A Bigger Vision

(Part 3 of the Beyond Trophies Series)

Before I share the students’ stories I promised, I’ve got to lay down some foundation stones.  

I’ve been asking you to examine the reasons you pursue excellence.   In Matthew 6, Jesus points out that if we are doing the right things just to be noticed and honored by other people, then that’s all the reward we’re ever going to get.  Frankly, if an award is all we're after, then our vision is far too nearsighted.

We need a bigger, and honestly, a nobler reason to do what we do.  The apostle Paul encouraged his friends in Colossae to work heartily, “as FOR THE LORD rather than for men.”  He reminded them that it was really the Lord they were serving.  Paul was right; if you belong to God, then seeking your own fame was never your assignment.  Seeking God’s fame is.  And this is where it can get really exciting.

Here’s why.  Peter and James both point out that “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  (I Peter 5 and James 4)  And in II Chronicles 16:9, a prophet named Hanani explains something incredibly important to King Asa, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”  (Incidentally, the prophet goes on to explain to Asa that it had been a really foolish idea not to trust the Lord.)

But what has all this got to do with speech and debate, or the rest of life for that matter?  Well—are you willing to work for God’s fame and not your own?  Are you willing to be available to God and to trust that His power will accomplish His purposes through your life as you obey Him?  Will you make your heart completely His?

You need to know that if you’re in this life all for yourself, the Bible makes it pretty clear that you better not count on either His help or His reward.  On the other hand, if you are willing to make your heart completely His, then the Lord is ready to strongly support you, and the horizon of your adventure in the world of speech and debate (and the rest of life) is about to be greatly expanded!

Real Life

I’m going to tell you about two students who trusted the Lord with their speeches, who trusted that God was doing something far bigger than awards, but I need you to keep something in mind.  When we read the records of how God worked in people’s lives, whether in the Bible or somewhere else, the point of these accounts is not to put the people on a pedestal, but to point the spotlight on the faithful God they trusted.  Remember that these are just ordinary students who put their trust in The Extraordinary God.

The setting is NCFCA Nationals 2013, where a young lady was competing with a Persuasive speech about adoption.  She’d been praying all season that God would continue to use her speech for His purposes.  Turns out one of her judges had previously closed her heart to—and decided against—adoption, because of negative stories she had heard.   However, as she explained on her ballot—because of that speech, she was reconsidering her decision!

And in another competition room, same tournament . . . God was at work through another student.  When a young lady’s Open Interpretation speech got to finals, she was incredibly humbled and confessed that she felt so unworthy of being in finals.  But she and her mom believed that God must have a purpose for taking her speech to finals, and they prayed specifically that God would use her speech to touch someone’s heart and that He would bring the person to the round who really needed to hear it.  Guess what?  After the round, they met a woman in the restroom who told them how she had really needed to hear that speech—how it had shown her that, even in her own tough times, God was still showing her his mercy.

Those students will tell you that knowing that someone is going to think and live differently tomorrow because of what God gave you to share is worth far more than any trophy.

In the cases of these two students, God let them see a small glimpse of what He was doing through them, the ripple effect that extends far beyond the medals and trophies.  And while it’s true that we have no guarantee that we’ll get to see what He’s up to this side of heaven, He is still the same capable God and altogether worthy of our trust.  Will you trust Him?

Maybe you're thinking this sounds great for some speeches...but what about the world of debate?  Next time, real life examples of lasting influence for God’s priorities from the debate world.