At one time or another, all Christian leaders struggle with properly balancing their faith with the real-world realities of secular business or athletics. I know I have.
One of my favorite Christian leaders is Clayton Kershaw, the future Hall of Fame pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The following are a list of his accomplishments:
- 2014 National League Most Valuable Player
- 3-time Cy Young award winner
- 7-time All Star
- 153-69 winning record
- lowest ERA by a starting pitcher in the live ball era – 2.64
In the May 7, 2018 edition of Sports Illustrated, writer Stephanie Apstein profiled this incredible athlete who also leads with his faith.
As I read her article, I gleaned the following 15 Lessons On Being A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics. All quotes are from Kershaw.
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Start Every Day With Prayer – Before every start, Kershaw prays, “Lord, whatever happens, please be with me.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Put Your Family First – Kershaw met his wife Ellen in the eight grade. They have been together every since.
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Deliver Results – Regarding his post season performance, Kershaw said, “You know what’s not complicated? Winning.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Don’t Waste Your God-Given Talent – Regarding the talent God gave him, Kershaw said, “I don’t want to waste it.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Have A Competitive Edge – Kershaw admitted, “What do you say when you make a great pitch and the guy still gets a hit? I’m not going to tip my hat. I’m pissed. You’re not supposed to get a hit off me.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Continually Improve – Kershaw realizes, “People assume that because you were good last year, that you’re gong to be good again.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Know What Matters – Kershaw pointed out, “Yes, it’s spring training, but that doesn’t mean you just say, Aw, whatever. Because it’s spring training the results don’t matter, but it’s going to matter soon enough, and you’ve gotta figure it out. Everything matters.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Be A Great Time Manager – Kershaw prefers to be 10 minutes early to every engagement.
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Outwork Everyone – Kershaw said, “I want to be able to say there are no regrets. I want to make sure I have done literally everything I possibly can.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Have Faith God’s Hand Is On Your Life – Kershaw has began handing all his concerns and worries to God. This simplified faith has lowered his anxiety. He is now able to see God’s hand in his life. He said, “He kept showing up when I didn’t notice it. I was like, Oh man, His hand was in all this stuff.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Accept God’s Grace – He understands we cannot earn God’s grace. As Kershaw likes to remind people, that’s what makes it grace.
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Live Out The Basic Christian Disciplines – Kershaw attends weekly worship services, attempts to read his Bible daily, and leads a Bible study.
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Be Generous And Serve The Poor And Under-Resourced – Kershaw and his wife Ellen are very committed to serving AIDS orphans in Zambia. They have also worked with Arise Africa to build two orphanages in the capital city of Lusaka.
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Know Your Platform Is Temporary. So Steward It Well. – Clayton and Ellen “remind each other often that in 10 or 20 years, no one will much care what he did on a pile of dirt.”
- To Be A Christian Leader While In Business Or Athletics Know God Is Always With You – Kershaw concludes by saying, “God is always with you. I think I say that just because I know He’s already there, so I just say that to remind myself.”
What is one thing you learned from Clayton Kershaw which will better help you lead with your faith in business and athletics?
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