Rightly Ordered Sports: Putting God First

Sports offer joy, discipline, community, and opportunities for growth, yet they easily become disordered when winning, status, or self image take priority over higher things. This guide explores how to rightly order sports by placing God first and applying the double love commandment: loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).

You will learn practical ways to integrate faith into training, competition, and recovery while stewarding your body, pursuing excellence with integrity, and treating teammates, opponents, and yourself with Christlike love. 

Athletes, coaches, parents, and fans who want sports to honor God rather than compete with Him will benefit most. Whether you compete at youth, amateur, or professional levels, these principles help transform sports from a potential idol into a sphere of worship and discipleship.

Table of Contents

I. Understanding Rightly Ordered Loves in Sports

II. Putting God First: Foundational Principles

III. Loving Yourself: Stewarding Body, Mind, and Spirit

IV. Loving Your Neighbor: Teammates, Opponents, and Community

V. Practical Application in Training and Competition

VI. Best Practices & Tips

VII. Common Challenges & Solutions

VIII. Conclusion

IX. Additional Resources

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27