In the 1950's and 1960's, the football teams of the University of Oklahoma were the best in the nation.  Bud Wilkinson's undefeated teams dominated college football.  In an interview after his retirement, he was asked how he made such powerful teams out of his players.  Here is his answer -

"When a football player goes into a game, he can play to a variety of audiences.  He may play for the crowd in the stands, for example, working hard for their cheers and avoiding their boos.  Or he might play for a special person in the stands - a girlfriend, maybe.  A player may allow the other team to dictate his play.  In other words, if the man across the line isn't very good, then he doesn't play well either.  If the opponent cheats and plays dirty, so does he.  Some football players allow their teammates to determine the quality of their play.  Some focus on the game officials, the referees.  And of course, some play merely for themselves; they work hard to be the stars.  Many audiences vie for the attention of the players.  My men know, however, that there's only one person watching the game that matters - only one person whom they have to please - me.  Regardless of the cheers or boos, the strength of the opposition, the fairness of the officials, or the play of their teammates, I am the only audience that counts.  When everyone knows that and plays that way, they pull together, do their best, give it their all, and win."

::::: The Point :::::

Christians sometimes play to the crowd, to our peers, or to any of a number of audiences.  But only one person in the stands really counts - God.  Every believer needs to focus on running the race that God has set out for him.  Otherwise, he may unwittingly follow the crowd rather than making intentional decisions based upon whether they will cause him to progress or regress in carrying out God's plan for his life.  We need to play our lives for God and God alone.