It’s not often I even register news from the football world, not because I have no interest at all in football (I was brought up by a sports-mad father and have attended a number of football matches all over the country, not to mention cricket matches, often freezing in April weather that felt more like winter than spring!), but even I heard this week that Manchester United had sacked their manager David Moyes less than a year after being appointed at Old Trafford. The Independent called it a ‘ruthless decision’ after only 316 days on the job; the Metro declared that the board had the backing of former manager (and legend) Sir Alex Ferguson (even though he had also backed the appointment those few months previously…) In semi-religious language reminiscent of Bill Shankly’s view that football was ‘much more important’ than life and death, the Guardian, calling this ‘a very brutal and modern sacking’ said ‘despite being anointed by Alex Ferguson, within 10 months Moyes had lost the support of the players, the fans and board.’ Needless to say, the reasons for the sacking were the poor results in matches played this season, with Manchester United only (!) seventh in the Premier League, and the ‘dour football that is anathema to fans who feasted on success throughout the Ferguson era.’
I have no particular interest in who manages Manchester United (or any other club, for that matter), but this news did make me ponder on how fickle we are as people and how easily we break vows (and contracts) these days. David Moyes was appointed manager on a six year contract, but in less than one year was deemed to have failed so spectacularly that the only answer was to dismiss him (and pay the costs required for breaking that contract.) This is symptomatic of a culture which judges by results and by the visible. In football terms, ‘the Glazers’ leveraged business model, estimated to have cost United £680m in interest and fees since they took over in 2005, requires consistent success on the pitch to keep the global sponsorship deals rolling in and the tills ringing.’ There is no room for delay, no room for slow progress, no room for anything except consistent, insistent, never-ending success in the football world. We view marriage in a similar light, believing that it is all about instant gratification, personal pleasure and my rights. We are very quick to define success and that will always be viewed in visible, material terms.
Such a culture, however, bears little resemblance to the gradual, unhurried way of organic growth in the natural world or indeed to the patience and long-suffering methods employed by God. The God who delights in paradox (1 Cor 1:18-31) and who has utter confidence in the long-term efficacy of His Word (Is 55:8-11) is a God of commitment and covenant and He expects the same from His people. Ps 50:14 says ‘Sacrifice thank offerings to God,fulfil your vows to the Most High‘: Ps 76:11 says ‘Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfil them.’ We depend on God’s faithfulness and immutability as the source of strength and stability in this world; He calls us to mirror these characteristics in our own lives.
One of the fruit of the Spirit is patience; Peter urges us to add perseverance to our faith. (2 Pet 1:6) This will often mean not giving up at the first sign of trouble, pressing on despite our personal feelings (which are so notoriously unreliable anyway!) and refusing to judge by external appearances (John 7:24). I have no idea if Manchester United have ‘done the right thing’ or not; I am not qualified to comment on their decision. But I do know that it is dangerous to make spiritual decisions based only on the evidence of our eyes and that God honours faithfulness and commitment because these reflect His own nature.