Day 21 — No Gloating

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles.”

— Proverbs 24:17 (BSB)

Your team just crushed the other team. The final buzzer sounds. What’s the first thing you want to do?

Maybe run over and rub it in. Maybe point at the other team and laugh. Maybe trash-talk the kid who’s been annoying you all game. Maybe post something about how bad they are.

That’s called gloating, and Proverbs says don’t do it. “Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles.”

Gloating means being happy about someone else’s failure, and showing it off. It’s rubbing someone’s face in their loss.

It’s fine to celebrate winning! It feels great, and you worked hard. But there’s a big difference between celebrating your win and celebrating someone else’s loss.

Think about how the other team feels. They worked hard too. They wanted to win just as much as you did. Now they’re disappointed, maybe even embarrassed. Gloating makes a hard moment worse.

Being a good sport means:

• Shaking hands with the other team, and meaning it: “Good game.”
• Complimenting good plays, even by the other team.
• Not trash-talking, before, during or after the game.
• Helping someone up when they fall.
• Celebrating with your team without mocking the other team.
• Winning with humility, remembering that next time, it could be you on the losing side.

Some of the greatest athletes are known not just for how they won, but for how they treated their opponents. People respect a champion who is gracious.

And here’s the deeper reason: Jesus loves the kids on the other team just as much as He loves you. When you treat them with respect, even after beating them, you’re showing them what Jesus is like.

Think about it: Have you ever gloated after winning? Have you ever been gloated at? How did it feel?

Try this: After your next game or competition, win or lose, say “Good game” and mean it. Compliment someone on the other side.

Dear God, help me be a good sport. When I win, help me celebrate without gloating or putting others down. Help me treat my opponents with respect, because You love them too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.