A few weeks ago, vaunted and highly celebrated basketball mega star Lebron James announced that he would depart from Cleveland and take his game to the south beach of Miami and begin playing for the Miami Heat.

There he would be joining fellow superstars Dwyain Wade and Chris Bosh, thus forming the nucleus of what many have said will be the team of the century. Lebron’s decision was not about money, but about his desire to win a championship, and in fact many championships, thus solidifying his position as the greatest NBA player ever. In leaving Cleveland where he has played the past seven years, James has left a trail of very disappointed and indeed angry fans. Cavs fans feel betrayed, let down, abused and neglected. I will saythis about Lebron, no one has garnered the attention and the accolades that this young man has ever in professional sports. Tiger Woods comes close, but that is it. Lebron has been called by many “The King,” “King James,” “The Chosen One,” “The Anointed” and various other titles of royalty and deity.

Now please do not misunderstand me, sports are sports and nicknames are nicknames and I will lose no sleep over the shenanigans of the over hyped, over paid, over scrutinized “man children” that we idolize and worship in our age of modernity. Yet there is a lesson we can learn here. We in our own spiritual walk often times cry out for loyalty yet at the same time attach our selves to what we call “the winning team” and then often squander that whichis “right” for that which is convenient.

Just like James, we justify our decisions based upon a very western, self-centered, yet also popular and accepted philosophy. James offered this explanation for his decision to leave, thus turning his back on his Cleveland fans. James said: “I made the decision that I thought was best for ME and would make ME happy, at the end of the day, I have to be happy with my decision that it is the best choice for ME and my family.”

Now again, I do not care where Lebron plays and I must admit that if he would have decided to become a Houston Rocket I would feel very different (tongue in cheek), but it does speak to what motivates and guides the majority of us in our decision making process. We are moreoften than not driven by self-centered pragmatism instead of self-offering sacrifice. We even teach this to our children and then it is modeled if the lives of their idols. It is simple - “What is in it for me?”

There was another who was called King, Anointed and Chosen who also was faced with a decision. We are told that His decision was not to take the course of self indulgence or self satisfaction or accomplishment, but to lay aside everything for the sake on another. King Jesus epitomizes loyalty, love, faithfulness and self sacrifice for the good of others at the cost of His own convenience and even life. The Bible tells us that “He who knew no sin became sin for us.”

Jesus was certainly not concerned with the winning team, or even his ownstanding or reputation. He lived among beggars and he died between thieves - all so that you and I could live the life of a champion! By that I mean that we would not lose the battle of sin and death but would share in His victory over hell, death and the grave! Paul said it so well in the second chapter of Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus Who, being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as aman, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In Cleveland, Ohio, the kng is dead - but I say for my life and hopefully yours “LONG LIVE THE KING!”

P.S. - The Miami Heat will win three out of the next five NBA Championships, thus in the minds of pontiffs everywhere justifying the decision of Lebron James. Sleep well Lebron, sleep well.

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Jack Maddox is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield. Follow him on his blog at www.wordpress.jackmaddox.com, or e-mail him at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 07/28/2010