The “Off” Season
By Grant Gaines
What do you think you would find the world’s most elite professional football players such as Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady, or Larry Fitzgerald doing from late February through the beginning of March? Lifting weights? Running sprints? Watching game film? Actually, these players wouldn’t be doing any of these things because it’s their offseason.
An offseason, as the name suggests, is a time period when you take a break from all strenuous activities to give your body and mind time to recharge. And an offseason is not just for those elite athletes out there, it’s for everybody who works out. In fact, multiple studies have shown the immense benefits your body reaps from taking a one day “offseason” from your workout regimen every week.
Physically, there are great benefits from taking time off from working out, but spiritually there is no such thing as an offseason. In fact, we are instructed in 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV, bold mine) to, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.”
Now, if you’re paying attention, you probably noticed that the author of 2 Timothy, Paul, mentioned the words, “out of season” in that verse even though I just said that there is no such thing as a spiritual offseason. So which is it, is there a time when we can spiritually “kick back our feet” or not?
There’s not. You see, the true reason Paul mentioned an offseason in his letter to Timothy was because many of the first century followers of Christ believed that Sunday was the time when they were to act like a Christian and the rest of the week was their “offseason” (does this sound like some of the Christians you know today?). Knowing this, Paul created a play on words to expose this common way of thinking. That is why Paul says that we must be prepared in season and out of season because if you are truly prepared – or working – all the time, you really don’t have an offseason at all, do you?
So in reality, there is no “on” or “off” switch for us to act like Christians because being a Christian is no act at all – it’s who we are (2 Corinthians 5:17). With this in mind, because you and I are Christians 24/7, 365 days a year, we must be prepared at all times. And how are we to prepare ourselves at all times? We must follow the teachings of Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV, bold mine) which tells us to, “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
Or in other words, from God’s perspective we are faithfully and fully prepared when we, “…do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV). Do you have a friend who needs some help moving this week? Go help them. Do you see that piece of trash on the ground? Go pick it up. Do you know of someone in your phone’s contact list that could use some encouragement? Give them a call.
Being aware and available to meet the needs of others around us is how we successfully make the most of every opportunity. Sure, at times these acts of kindness may seem like an inconvenience to your schedule, but as Christians we should all have the selfless, Galatians 2:20 (NIV) type of attitude – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me….” Who knows, maybe today is the day God is going to use you to be an answer to someone else’s prayers!
That’s what Joseph was to his family. Do you remember Joseph from the Old Testament? Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers where he eventually rose to second in command over all of Egypt. And just how did young Joseph get that promotion? He was prepared at all times to help those around him.
First, Joseph helped his master Potiphar (Genesis 39). Then after he was wrongfully sentenced to prison, Joseph helped Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker by interpreting their dreams (Genesis 40). And finally, Joseph was once again prepared to offer a helping hand, this time to the ruler over all the land of Egypt, Pharaoh (Genesis 41).
Don’t you think it would have been pretty easy for Joseph to wallow in self-pity after being sold out by his own family? Or what about when he was thrown into prison for being a man of integrity do you think anyone would have blamed Joseph if he had thrown his hands up in frustration? I certainly wouldn’t blame the young fella, would you?
But Joseph didn’t care about what anyone else thought, he wanted to please God. And Joseph knew that he served a God who had commanded him to always be prepared to make the most of every opportunity, so that’s what he did. And thank goodness he did. Because of Joseph’s faithfulness to the Lord’s commands, Joseph rose to power in Egypt which allowed him to save his family – the very family through whom our Lord Jesus Christ would one day come!
I wonder if you, like Joseph, feel like you’re imprisoned today. Maybe you’re in financial trouble. Maybe you can’t stand your job. Maybe your health isn’t quite what it used to be. Or maybe you want to select answer “D” – all the above.
These circumstances aren’t fair and are beckoning you to take an “offseason” from your faith and service for God’s kingdom. But as God’s Word teaches us, these aren’t the times when we can wave the white flag. No, we must follow Joseph’s example and Isaiah’s words by confidently saying, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame” (Isaiah 50:7, NLT). That is the only way we can be prepared both in season and out of season.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
©Grant Gaines 2013
