March Madness

I've been watching two frequent news makers the past month.  One is the NCAA and the other is the famed and highly idolatrized NFL lockout.  If you are watching any of the news channels, both share the limelight of this month’s sporting headlines. From basketball “bracketology” and school bragging rights to collective-bargaining and contract negotiations to millionaire moguls to controversial cover ups to student-scholar amateurs to pre-madonna professional athletes... 

At first glance, both organizations and their respective players are seemingly at polar opposites of the sporting spectrum and their associated missions. Yet, given further scrutiny, in reality, their worlds are much closer in nature than originally led to believe. Both are big, big, big business with billion-dollar dividends distributed annually.

In short, both are fashioned by finances, molded by money, and corrupted by cash. Whether it’s the revenue-seeking recruits feeling entitled to “$100 dollar handshakes” or egocentric athletes seeking greater affluence in an ever-adoring sports society, the financial chasm between collegiate athletics and professional sports is quickly closing, and is in fact connected.

The argument isn’t whether players should be paid for their services—regardless of level—the point I’m trying to make is that all of the corruption and chaos witnessed time and again in sports is in large part fueled by the LOVE of money. 
The Bible clearly states that money, in and of itself, isn’t a bad thing—as it is indeed a necessity of life. But what is really the truth of the matter is that society is mimicking sports—openly coveting, embracing, and idolizing money—making it an end-all—and it's that that is the root of all evil. Jesus was not silient concerning the powerful and misguided place money can have in a persons' life.
It is my prayer that we each take to heart a lesson from the book of Philippians 4:11-12, it says:
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need…regardless of money. Remember, you're to keep focused on the LORD, not on your cash flow.