You pay the price for success in advance

Bill Belichick is one of the best and winningest football coaches of all time and has in fact coached his teams to win three Super Bowls in the past few years. One of his favorite sayings is that, “You pay the price for success in advance”. I am sure that he is referring to mental and physical preparation in regard to his players and coaches, but it has other implications as well. Last year his team did lose the Super Bowl but won more regular season games than any other team in the history of the NFL and set all kinds of records in the process. It is a shame that they dominated all year long, but choked on that final game, but it was a heck of a good season and will not likely be repeated by any other team any time soon.

One of the super stars of the team was Randy Moss. This guy is very talented; however as gifted and brilliant as his play on the field might be, prior to joining the Patriots, he had consistently been a troublemaker and was divisive on every team and consequently practically no one wanted him, because football like so many other endeavors is a team sport. No one wants a divisive person on a “team” .

Belichick however forgave Moss his past misdeeds and convinced him to do something he had not done in the past, and that was to become a team player and not a “self”-player. It worked; Moss worked extremely hard on the field and was a leader in the locker room and was instrumental in helping to set all of those records for that phenomenal, unbelievable year. I think the key to Belichick’s success was his ability to forgive Moss his past poor conduct and give him another chance. Most people, (me included), were so turned off by Moss’s belligerent and arrogant demeanor that just the sight of him running his mouth on television made them sick. Belichick looked deeper. He was initially criticized for making the decision to hire Moss, but was vindicated about this decision as he has been with so many others. (He paid the price for success in advance.)

I think forgiveness is one of the most difficult things for a Christian to do. Christ has made it clear if we are not willing to forgive others, neither should our sins be forgiven. Perhaps the most difficult wrongs that we must forgive are family related. Often those whom we need to forgive do not feel they need to be forgiven. I have forgiven those who have wronged me that to this day think they have done nothing wrong.

So why forgive someone for something when they do not even want it or think they have done anything wrong? Get this, as it is important, we forgive people just as much if not more for “ourselves” as for the other person. We benefit from forgiving others. It sets us free. True forgiveness is not just words either, it means letting go and forgetting all of the injustice that we have received or perceived to receive from others. No more lying in bed grinding your teeth reliving the misdeed(s) over and over again seething with rage. No more planning on clever things to do and say to get even.

Just forgiveness plain and simple as Jesus did when He said, “I will remember your sins no more”. Since we are not perfect like Jesus, and are mere imperfect and fallen flesh, it will not be easy. We must “pay the price in advance” if we want to reap the rewards of success later. It is not easy to love those who wrong us, but the Bible instructs us that the second greatest commandment is that we are to love one another, and that is not just the folks that love us.

There are divisive and often mean-spirited people in the workplace, certainly in the church, in families and among friends. It is in our interest, (in as much as is within our ability and within our power to do so) to forgive these people their shortcomings as Christ has forgiven ours. When we do so, we pay the price for success in advance and will be set free from the sorrow and stress associated with it. I’m sure everyone wants to be successful, so who do you need to forgive today? Get busy!

John 15:12
This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I have
loved you.