From July 23 to August 3 the best athletes from across the Commonwealth of Nations (an interconnected body of nations, most of whom were formerly members of the British Empire) gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the Commonwealth Games (a level of competition on par with the Olympic Games). There are two vital ingredients one must have in order to reach the skill levels required to compete in such a prestigious event. The first is natural ability or talent. All the world’s top coaches concede that even they cannot direct just anyone to become great, no matter how hard they work or how much money they have. There has to be God-given ability in the person from the beginning.

For example muscles have to react in a certain way, or limbs need to be at a certain ratio to other body parts, depending on the sport. There is nothing we can do to acquire this requirement to perform at the elite level. It can't be purchased or learned, and it may seem unfair. These athletic people are often referred to as being “gifted.”

Being gifted, however, isn't enough to get an athlete to the games. He or she must also have the other vital ingredient, which is attitude. A fire burning in the belly to want to be at the top of a sporting discipline, so badly, that they are willing to give up everything in order to capitalise on the talent they've been handed.

We all know plenty of people who have one of these qualities. People who try and give their all to a pursuit they are passionate about, but just can't develop beyond being average. Or, on the other hand, someone who can turn up to an athletics meet at school and light the track up with minimal training, but when it comes time to develop this talent in order to be able to take it to the next level, they can’t be bothered.

In my case, I really enjoy playing the piano and have taken years of lessons, yet I can only play at a very basic level. I see others sit down at a keyboard, with little training, and play a tune without knowing anything about reading music. Very frustrating.

A priceless gift

Have you been given a gift that you're not taking advantage of and developing? One that others would look at and wish they'd been born with? Chances are, if you are reading this, you are being offered a gift that no money can buy or no amount of hard work and sacrifice will achieve. Just like Usain Bolt’s sprinter’s body, it's God-given.

The apostle John recorded Christ's statement that, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44). Millions and millions have searched and are searching for God. They study the Bible, go to church and often make great sacrifices, sometimes even with their lives, trying to understand God's plan for mankind, but are not yet able to comprehend it. It’s not unlike the person who would dearly love to be a golf pro, but simply doesn't have the physical aptitude.

God's calling is a gift. It's actually a series of gifts, starting with Him flicking a switch inside you to enable you to see His way and how different it is from your own. This is called coming to repentance. At this point you must make the decision to become elite. No one can force you or carry you. You must have that fire in your belly to want to attain a higher standard, no matter what it takes.

What will you do?

During the time that the New Testament was written, sporting events were popular in the Roman world. The apostle Paul liked to use sporting analogies to get some of his points across, and with good reason. The word athlete comes from a Greek word meaning to compete for a prize. The prize on offer to those who love God is the crown of life (James 1:12), meaning the opportunity to live forever at Christ's return.

The apostle Paul puts this into perspective in 1 Corinthians 9:25 where he uses the example of an athlete disciplining his body and living a life devoted to obtaining the crown which he will receive for winning a race. He points out that human athletes do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we are to devote our lives to obtaining an imperishable crown.

An elite athlete’s life isn't easy. They make lots of sacrifices and endure plenty of hardships along their journey, losing friends, facing constant discouragement, sustaining injury, and having to stick to a rigorous training program that doesn't always allow them to participate in the things that most people their age are doing.

Do you want to use your gift of being drawn by God the Father to receive this imperishable crown spoken of so many times in the Bible? Or will you be like one of those gifted people who others admire and wish they could have what you’ve been offered, but you simply can’t be bothered to develop it?

Join the team

No athlete gets to the games on their own. Watching YouTube clips will only get you so far. You need a coach. As with any serious pursuit, there will be discouragement. This is why being a member of a team is important. Your team mates can help you up, and you can help them up along the way.

Find a minister who is teaching the truth of the Bible to be your coach. To again quote the apostle Paul, “…if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). Clearly there are rules to learn and follow. Ask this minister to add you to a team (through baptism into the Body of Christ), to a group of fellow gifted people striving for the crown of righteousness.

Consider what you’re seeing the next time you watch the Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games. Watch the athletes with their disciplined bodies and determined minds working together in what is an amazing spectacle and get inspired to become elite—in the family of God!