Jason Williams and Patrick Bujak
God Is Keeping Score!
I was out to eat with my wife recently and ran into a man that I had watched play basketball for several years. This man is Jason Williams, who played collegiately for the Duke Men’s Basketball program. He won the 2001 NCAA Championship with Duke, and was named the NABC Player of the year in 2001 and 2002. He was drafted 2nd overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. I was born and raised in a family where we played and enjoyed sports. I fondly remember playing catch with my dad throughout my childhood. Sports taught me the value of teamwork, attention to detail, discipline, and hard work. Another lesson that sports taught me was that numbers matter! As a high school basketball coach, every season it would seem that a scorekeeper missed the value of a 3-point shot or was talking during a made free-throw and would fail to update the scoreboard. I can still remember my frustration on several occasions as the play went on while the scoreboard reflected an inaccurate score! While serving in Missouri several years ago, a faithful pastor reminded me that God was keeping score and would accurately give rewards for my labor of love. It was a time in my life where I felt very disillusioned, and felt forgotten by God. I was going through my daily Bible reading on January 15, 2023 and was reminded of this truth while reading of the story of Jacob and Laban in Genesis 31. Jacob had been serving Laban for a period of 20 years, and had his wages changed 10 times. Laban had used Jacob and treated him unfairly. However, in Genesis 31:12 God declared “for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.” God was keeping score! He had future rewards for Jacob, and certainly blessed him for his faithful service. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it! Christian friend, are you being used? Unfairly treated? Know this, God is keeping score….and his scorebook is accurate! Be encouraged my friend. Keep doing right, keep serving!
