To many along the faith spectrum, the natural question may be “What’s God have to do with it?” That’s a great question. As it turns out, He actually has much to do with everything. ♦

I heard a friend speak this past week about champions. He asked a provocative question: Who’s your champion?

With the Olympics coming soon on the heels of the NFL Super Bowl championship game, there will be the crowing and crowning of champions and gold medalists. We all certainly respect and admire champions in sports for their top achievements. There is, of course, another definition for the word “champion.” Besides the definition as “a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, especially in sport,” Webster defines it also as “a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else.”

And that’s what my friend was speaking about this week. Do you have someone like that in your life? Who’s your real champion?

God in Commercial Real Estate?
My friend is a top producer here in the Silicon Valley commercial real estate market. He was sharing his own personal story at the Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast. He spoke of the highs and lows of this challenging and treacherous business marketplace filled with capable and accomplished hard-chargers. During a particularly rough business patch, he found himself in the midst of a much needed lucrative real estate transaction fraught with egos and greed.

As the apparently straight-forward deal began to unravel under the stress of mixed agendas, my friend suddenly recognized a significant dilemma before him:

1. Fight the deal battle his own way, in his own power and competence (in which he was very well-practiced), or
2. Relinquish the deal battle to God; that is, let God be his champion.

For the uninitiated, this second option sounds strange, even weird. For the standard Christian, the option to “give it to God” is the apparent right answer but can seem trite (“Let go, let God!”) and sometimes wholly illogical and impractical. Actually, though one may never voice it out loud, to many all along the faith spectrum the natural question may be “What’s God have to do with it?

That’s a great question. It turns out, He actually has much to do with everything.

God’s in the Championing Business
My mature Christian friend was well beyond Christian platitudes. He knew the choice was real and very distinct. In coming to God in humble and desperate prayer and releasing the matter onto His shoulders rather than taking it on and strong-arming it as he was so inclined, he felt that peace that Christians feel when they actually do “let go.” One step further, he says he sensed a vision of God on His throne saying, “Now that you’ve come to me, just watch what I will do for you!”

In effect, God did become his champion. Immediately there were repercussions, turnarounds, events, introductions and occurrences that turned this real estate transaction into something that grew multi-fold on several levels. My friend never looked back. Oh, yes there have been challenges, issues, problems and new forks in the road, yet he is bold and steadfast in faith and dependency on his real champion, Jesus/God, the Lord of his life and that of his young family.

Your Choice of Champion Determines the Victory
My friend puts it this way: “Who you choose as your Champion determines your victory.” A very wise point. Think of it this way: When we choose our own good, smart, educated, wise, experienced way, we may actually do fairly well in the near and even long term. In this world. In fact, one can do very well and even gain much the world has to offer, yet…

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 16:26)

The flip side is better.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

When we choose God as Champion, as advocate, as Lord, as King, of our comings and goings in all of our business and personal affairs in life, then we have chosen well. In ways that we can’t understand, God consistently shows up for the faithful, His children, His beloved. It’s not always in lucrative real estate deals or as we would script it, but it’s always good because it’s as He would have it play out, even now as well as in the long run.

Therefore, the victory is His, and we are but willing pawns in His loving hands, or arms. Actually, no matter your occupation or environment, there really is no better way to live out life in real peace now and eternally.

Who have you chosen as Champion of your life?
_________________________
The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” – Joshua 10:8

Categories: Abundant Living, Calling, Devotion, Faith, Purpose

Tags: Champion, relinquishing control, Silicon Valley Prayer Breakfast, victory