Self Motivated

Self Motivated

Captain Clutch, Derek Jeter, has been battling the critics during recent sub-par performances.  This weekend he accomplished a goal that would momentarily give the negative eye of the media a break.  This weekend Derek Jeter had his 3,000th hit.  To give you some perspective on how significant it was, he is only the 28th player in Major League Baseball history, the league was founded in 1869! Not only did he get his 3,000th hit, Jeter cranked out a home run and one lucky fan, Christian Lopez, caught that ball.  (He also went 5 for 5 and drove in the winning run, but you don't want to hear about that.) Surprisingly "lucky" is not the word that many are using to  describe this fortunate fan.  

When Mr Lopez caught that ball he was escorted to a private room as the ball he was holding was worth an estimated $250,000.  The cell phone salesman and recent college graduate with $100,000 in school loans made a controversial decision, he returned the ball to Derek Jeter.  He asked for nothing in return and was gifted anyway with some great prizes and a chance to meet the celebrity athlete on this historic day.  He simply wanted Jeter to have the prized symbol of his accomplishments.  Great right?  Happy ending right?  That's the most commendable act, isn't it?

As I listened to a radio talk show on ESPN radio I was appalled to hear the comments from one of the hosts.  While I can understand the dilemma that one would face in this situation and the uncertainty by many to make such a decision, I am taken back when I heard people actually calling him a fool.  One sportscaster said, "I'm sorry but you need to think about yourself first."  My heart sunk.  This really is where we are headed, a self motivated world.  By self motivated I am meaning, motivated by what is good for the self.  I remember my father being shocked to hear that at a young age I knew the term, "dog eat dog world".  Isn't that what we have become though?  Individual.  Do whatever it takes.  Do what's best for you.

With all that I try to be open-minded and respectful about, I have to say bluntly that I despise this individualistic mentality.  The idea of community, the idea of helping a fellow human, the sense that we would praise and reward a person that would make a sacrificial decision.  I'm not even saying that keeping the ball or giving it up is the right decision.  If he kept the ball, I would understand that too.  What makes me sick to my stomach is to hear on national radio and probably countless blogs, that he was an idiot and that he should have considered himself first.  

This is why I value the Biblical principles so much.  The scriptures are filled with outstanding values that I believe would create harmony and peace should all mankind choose to live by it.  In Philippians 2:3,4 Paul urges the believers, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."  The world is drifting from these kinds of values and drawing more definite circles around the individual self.  This individualism is destructive in so many way, perhaps most commonly in marriage.  Divorce has become a normal pathway from marriage and I believe individualism is a huge factor.  Genesis tells us that a man and a woman are to become "one flesh", that's not possible when we live so individually.  

Would I have returned the ball to Jeter?  Good questions, I don't know that I would have even considered that.  Perhaps I am also strongly motivated by the self.  My urgency here is that we all consider the destructive trends of our individual thinking and motivation.  Explore the scriptures of the Bible and see what a Christ-motivated life is like.  I see a lifestyle that places others above yourself while understanding personal responsibility.  Selfish ambition, self-centered pursuits and individualism will deeply wound our society.  I firmly believe that.