Felix Hernandez MLB

 

            It is Major League Baseball season. In February, Felix Hernandez became the highest paid pitcher in MLB history, inking a 7-year deal worth $175 million. He is a Cy Young Award winner and has been designated an All Star three times. He is only 26 years old! Is he worth $175 million? The Seattle Mariners think so.
 
            However, back in 2008, the Yankees broke a record, signing Alex Rodriguez to a 10-year $275 million contract. The year before the contract, he put up MVP numbers. Now, he is mediocre. Albert Pujols left the Cardinals and signed with the Dodgers for $240 million, 10-year contract. After the contract was signed, he batted only .217. It was the worst season in his 12-year career.
 
            Back in 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. began a nine-year deal with the Reds for a then-whopping $116.5 million. After the contract, his stats dropped in every major category. For the next ten years, he would be very inconsistent and never dominate the game as he did before. We could go on.
 
            The bottom line is that man is overhyped. These men may have pulled back unintentionally, not wanting to hurt themselves. They may have pulled back intentionally, knowing that the money was theirs anyway. I don't know. What appears to be the case, however, is that after signing $100+ million contracts, these men weren't as good as they were before the big bucks.
 
            I repeat the point – man is overhyped. Too many think they are super. Too many think they are God's gift to mankind, in whatever category. Too many get far more respect, money, popularity than they deserve.
 
            In fact, to paraphrase Dave Ramsey, we all get treated better than we deserve. God treats us better than we deserve. If we were to land in hell, we will be there because we deserve it. We clearly do not deserve heaven. Jesus said, "So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty" (Luke 17:10).
 
            All that we have, we have by the grace of God. All that we are, we are by the grace of God. Anything we can do, we accomplish by the grace of God.
 
            If you had a multi-million dollar contract, how would you treat your boss? A more important question to ask is - how do we treat God for all the bounteous gifts He showers on us? He deserves profound respect, deep love, and complete obedience.

 

--Paul Holland