Player Profile: Tim Tebow

With NFL training camps recently breaking, controversy is beginning to swirl again about last year's high draft picks. Few figures in the draft class are as polarizing as the newly drafted Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. While he's praised as an amazing college quarterback, few experts have him pegged to be a success in the NFL, due to his team's reliance on the Spread Offense (a formation which is often employed to great success at lower levels, but rarely sees success in the NFL.) What's most interesting to me though is how unabashedly brave he is in using his platform to preach the Gospel.

If you follow college football closely, you've probably heard the story of young Tim. He was born to Christian missionaries in the Philippines. When his mother was pregnant, she became infected with a condition that threatened her life should she go through with the pregnancy, and doctors recommended an abortion in order to insure she lived. She insisted on having the baby, and Tim grew up learning from his parents about the Lord. Despite being homeschooled, he played football extensively at a local school in Jacksonville, and accepted an offer from Florida to play college ball. At Florida, his career took off. He earned a Heisman Trophy his sophomore year, was third in the voting in 2008, and 5th in 2009. He continually impressed fans with his ability to both throw and run efficiently, and lead his team to BCS Championship games twice. He was drafted by the Broncos last year despite concerns that he does not have the talent to excel in the NFL.

To say Tim is a great football player is easy, but its not giving him nearly enough credit. To fully understand his motivation and desire, you have to look to his roots. Tim has used every platform he's been given up to this point for the Lord. Not only does he do the little things like writing bible verses on eyeblack and praising the Lord in postgame interviews, but he does community service extensively in the offseason. He's brought people to Christ while visiting them in jail cells. He takes mission trips back to the Philippines spreading the word and giving medical help to those in need.

"I could spend my Spring Break hanging out; having fun. Or I could spend my Spring Break ministering to Orphans, people in the Hospital who only have a few weeks to live...and I think: 'What really matters?'"

Tebow doesn't take his stand lightly. In an interview with ESPN, he states that his goal has always been to use football as a way to get to a place where he can tell people about the Lord. Where other athletes shy away from the spotlight and insist that children don't look at them for an example, Tim embraces it. He uses football because he wants to show everyone else how he's able to live life so joyously. This may seem proud, but it enforces faith in the Lord. The scriptures tell us that we should be living examples to Christ, and be bold in how we live our lives in faith so that others may see our confidence in Jesus as real, genuine, and providing.

"But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." - 2nd Corinthians 10:17

The example we can learn from Tim is that we shouldn't be shy about what the Lord is doing with us. We need to aspire to greatness and be confident that the Lord will bless our endeavors if we plan on using them for his glory. We can use the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as a parallel. The Lord may give us small portions to start, but if we prove faithful in using our gifts for the Lord, he will bless us in abundance as we have learned the proper way to use our gifts. Perhaps Tim is simply being entrusted with a greater portion due to his faith and diligence. While we may not all earn the platform that Tim has due to our individual gifts, we can all take pride in what the Lord has given us.

The moral here is to give the Lord praise in all you do. Shout to the world what the Lord has given you; the Lord delights in having joyous children who love him and tell the world of his love. If we are faithful, diligent, and loving in our lives, then perhaps we will simply end up as Tim has; our cup overflowing with grace, mercy, and opportunity.