Consider These Examples…

Many of you know that I love sports and have had the privilege to coach some along the way. I’ve heard many coaches say, “Well, you know what they say, if you ain’t cheating then you ain’t trying.”

Joe Montana said this about Tom Brady. Speaking of Montana:

He thinks Brady is a cheater. And he means that in the best of ways.

Montana said in an interview with Andrew Siciliano on NFL Network that cheating is part of the game of football, and that finding any edge is what makes players and teams great.

“They always say, ‘If you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying.’ So they’re trying hard,” Montana said.

Montana has said in the past that a quarterback can tell when he picks up a football if it’s underinflated, but Montana also said that Deflategate was no big deal. That’s still how he feels.

“You know, everybody does everything they can to possibly get a little bit of an edge. I mean, back then it wasn’t illegal but it was illegal, like our guys used to spray — and everybody did it at the time — silicone on their jerseys, the linemen, so that the defensive linemen couldn’t get a hold of them. And the defensive linemen did it so the offensive linemen couldn’t hold them,” Montana said. “It’s a game. Everybody wants to win, so you do whatever you can to make it happen.”

Really? Is that true? Does the end justify the means?

The Houston Astros are in the World Series again. Yet, they had a major scheme to cheat in 2017, which actually continued through the 2019 postseason. In a report on the scheme by Sporting News,

As a result of the warning to teams stating that the manager and general manager would be held accountable for any illegal use of technology in the game, the players involved were not disciplined. However, the report stated most position players on the team either received signals or helped decode the signs. The players told investigators that if A.J. Hinch, the manager, had asked them to stop, they would have. The report said “virtually all of the Astros’ players had some involvement or knowledge of the scheme.”

Why didn’t any players get disciplined? Because many times the end justifies the means.

But Does the End Justify the Means?

I used two sports examples and a political one above; however, this happens all over life if we are not careful. What about work, school, church, relationships, business, or wherever?

Does it bother you? Do you care? Or, does it bother you only when the other person does it? If it is your candidate or sports figure or business, do you mind as much?

The Bible is clear, and we must be as well that the end does not justify the means. In fact, the Bible teaches to trust God with the end and pay attention to the means.

Consider this particular passage:

¹ Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Notice verse 3. The person who delights in God’s Word and is truly happy is like the tree. What does it say about the tree? It brings forth its fruit in its season.

The emphasis on the tree is the process or means. The tree is planted by the rivers of waters.

What about the fruit? The tree brings forth the fruit as God determines in the season God determines. The leaf does not wither – not because of the tree but because of God’s plan and the result of the process. God handles the product.

Consider Joshua

When Moses died, Joshua began leading the Children of Israel. Consider what God told Joshua when Moses died.

⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9)

Again, notice what God emphasizes – process.

Do not turn to the left or the right. Observe to do all that God commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not let the Bible depart from your attention. Trust in God’s presence with you.

All process.

But what about product? God handles that. He says then Joshua would have good success. Why? God handles the product and guarantees it when we handle the process.

What about you? How do you function?

For you, does the end justify the means?

Paul writes, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Whatever you do refers to process. He does not say anything about product. If you get the process right, the product – whatever that is – will be right as well. However, the product can never bring glory to God from our human perspective if the means do not bring Him glory.

In a normal day, how do you respond to the choices in front of you?

Sports? Politics? Work? Church work? Does the end justify the means?