As of this writing, because of the novel coronavirus, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is considering playing games in empty arenas. Such an action has already been taken by some professional sports in other countries.

Reacting to this news, Lebron James, one of the game’s biggest stars, made his feelings clear:

Nah, that’s impossible. I ain’t playing. If I ain’t got the fans in the crowd, that’s what I play for. I play for my teammates, I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena, and there ain’t no fans there? I ain’t playing.

My initial reaction was, “Poor baby.” Not all of us can play to a packed arena of adoring fans. Most of the work done by most of us gets done “in the quiet.”

Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. (1 Thessalonians 4.11, 12, ESV)

On the other hand, all of us have an audience according to Hebrews 12.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? (Hebrews 12.1, MSG, referring to the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11)

Lebron would have such an audience too, by television. He would have to play to them by faith, the same as we do.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Hebrews 11.1, 2, MSG)