The best three weeks of the year have arrived!

The 64 team tournament is set, and nearly everyone I know cannot wait for the games to begin at Noon on Thursday.

While it is called March Madness, I think it would be good for us followers of Christ to remember a few things as the most exciting time comes upon us.

1.     The last fruit listed in that great listing of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is self-control.  This is important to remember during March Madness. On Thursday there will be 16 basketball games on TV. On Friday there will be 16 basketball games on TV. That is a minumum of 12 hours of live basketball on TV each day.  On Saturday and Sunday, there will be 8 games on each day and that too will be a minimum of 12 hours of live bball. Now, be careful with this. Use some self-control. If you watch, that much basketball over the course of those 4 days there is a good chance you will be neglecting something else…  Perhaps your job, your wife, your kids, the dishes, the mail, your church, etc. Please be careful to enjoy all the bball you want while remaining controlled by the Spirit.

2.     The second fruit listed is joy. I know so many people (myself included) whose personality rises and falls on whether or not Roy Williams calls a timeout to stop a run or whether the Big East referees are blowing the game. This should not be the case. Our joy is from the Lord. Please in these coming days do not allow the bball to effect you and your joy. Whether your team gets upset early or makes the Final Four (or in my case sneaks into the NIT), stay joyful. In fact, if your joy is dependent upon your team or if your team can cause you to be mean, hateful, angry, or sinful then you seriously have a bigger problem. Think about that.

3.     Reading the Bible is a must for Christians. As Jesus quoted, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Let me repeat. Man does not live by bread alone… or basketball alone.  You live by God’s Word. Please, please, please do not let Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to pass without getting in your Bible. You must. If you go four days without the Word, you are going to be weak and hungry and more prone to act wrongly in response to the tourney. This may mean you have to read the Word in the mornings because each day ball begins at noon and goes well into the night.  But I have warned you, so make the steps now to be sure that Bball doesn’t become your god over the next four days.

4.     1 Corinthians 10:31 says “whatever you do, do it all the glory of God.” As you enjoy March Madness, love Jesus through it all. Don’t let these 3 weeks pass and then regret how into it you were. Keep your priorities straight from the first tip on Thursdayall the way until the Final Four in early April. And let God be glorified because you enjoy the gift of March Madness that he has given us.

Go Tarheels! (in the NIT).