Today marks the beginning of the London Olympic Games. They start on schedule and over budget, a common practice of such operations. But whose counting, it's only a few billion pounds.

As the American team departed for the games controversy arose when it was revealed the uniforms they will wear during the opening ceremony were made in China rather than by domestic manufacturers. Once again the highly nationalistic nature of these games was highlighted. Despite globalism and the interconnectedness of all major nations we are still highly tribalistic when it comes to our fundamental human nature. The Olympic Games, every two years (winter and summer) bring this to the fore. It didn't used to be this way.

Back in ancient Greece where the games began individuals competed for themselves, not for their city or country. It is only in the modern incarnation of the games that the nation-state has been emphasized. Each team that goes to the games are sponsored by and represent their nations. this become a highly politicized process. In 1980 the United States team was withdrawn from the Moscow games in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. All the years of work by the athletes was sacrificed to the political aims of the state.

When the 1980 USA hockey team defeated the Soviet team it was seen as a "national" triumph by one state over another. The reality was a dedicated and highly motivated amateur team of Americans beat a disciplined, veteran Soviet team some considered more professional than amateur. It was a great game and great story. Broken down to the individual level this one game makes a better study of individuals working together for a common goal. In the end this gets us closer to the point the Apostle Paul made when he referenced the Greek games in one of his famous letters.

In I Corinthians 9:24-27 he writes, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

Here he draws an analogy from sport to explain the journey to the kingdom of God is like a race. Athletes competed for a physical crown of laurel leaves in the Greek games. He was running a spiritual race toward the kingdom and the goal of eternal life, represented here by the "imperishable crown". Paul says he runs with certainty, knowing what his life's purpose, and disciplines himself to gain this spiritual goal.

Here is the true value of sport. A life lesson to anyone who engages that our larger goal is the spiritual kingdom of God–not some temporary physical medal, whether for an individual or one's country. Paul's patriotism lay with the kingdom of God. His citizenship was in heaven (Philippians 3:17).

The pageant of the Olympic games are always a stunning piece of entertainment. They are decidedly nationalistic. But every two years when they come I watch for the individual stories of dedication, sacrifice, excellence and achievement told in the lives of those who compete. These always offer to me compelling and inspiring stories that help me complete for the larger goal of the kingdom. As you watch these games over the next two weeks keep this in mind.