The Latin definition of the word “passion” is “to suffer,” Tebow explained. When someone is passionate about something, they are willing to suffer for it.
“And so far in my life,” he admitted, “I have been more willing to suffer for a game than I ever have for Jesus.”
“I’ve given up more in my life to win a game than I ever have for Jesus,” Tebow exclaimed.
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“It doesn’t mean that I’m not passionate about Jesus. I am passionate about Jesus. I love Jesus. I’ve just been more passionate about a game,” Tebow said, citing examples of times he played games with a broken leg, a broken hand, a broken sternum, a broken collarbone, and broken ribs.
“I’ve gotten up more times in my life to train in the middle of the night [and] early in the morning [and] late at night so that I could win a game. I’ve spent more time watching film, studying, preparing for defense than I ever have studying scripture,” Tebow said.
Sharing about the time he was trying out for the New England Patriots, Tebow said that he turned down $1 million to film a commercial, because he didn’t want to ruin his chances of making the team after Bill Belichick asked him not to bring attention to the team. Tebow shared that three weeks later, he got cut and didn’t make the team.
“I was passionate about a game, because I was passionate about making the team. And if it just gave me that much more of a chance to make the team, then I will turn it down. Why did I do it,” Tebow asked. “Because I was passionate about a game. But the question you should ask me is, Timmy, if someone called you right now and said hey, you have a chance to lead one person to the Lord, to help one hurting person, but you’d have to give up a million dollars right now, what do you say?”
Tebow said the he hopes that he would say, “Of course!” But he admittedly shared that “in my life I’ve been more passionate [about a game], because when you look at the definition—what are you willing to suffer, the degree you’re willing to endure to accomplish the goal—man, I endured a lot. I was passionate. So much to try to be the best I could at a game, to win.”
Tebow reiterated his love and passion for Jesus, but made it clear that so far in his life, he has given up more for a game than he has for his savior, Jesus Christ.
