The Matthew Principle: Why Boys Must Give Wrestling Everything They Have
There’s a saying I tell my boys often:
“Those who have everything, more will be given. Those who have nothing, everything will be taken.”
It’s a paraphrase from the Gospel of Matthew (13:12, 25:29), and it’s not just a Bible verse — it’s a law of life. You see it everywhere. The kids who have skill and discipline… keep getting better. They keep stacking wins, opportunities, and confidence. The kids who avoid hard work, avoid risk, and avoid growth… lose what little they have.
It’s called The Matthew Principle, and if you understand it, it can change the way you see your training, your wrestling career, and even your life as a man.
The Parable of the Talents
Jesus told a story about a master who was going on a trip. Before he left, he gave three servants money — “talents” — based on their ability.
One got five talents, one got two, and one got one.
The first two servants went to work. They took what they were given, risked it, invested it, and doubled it. The one who had five now had ten. The one who had two now had four.
But the third servant? He buried his talent in the ground. Did nothing with it. No risk, no growth.
When the master came back, he rewarded the first two for multiplying what they’d been given — gave them more and trusted them with bigger responsibilities. The third? He took away the one talent and gave it to the man who had ten.
The message is clear: Use what you’ve been given and grow it… or lose it.
Why This Matters to Wrestling
God gave every boy “talents” — not just money, but abilities, drive, physical potential, and mental toughness. You’re supposed to multiply those gifts through effort, discipline, and sacrifice.
That’s why I tell my wrestlers: when you’re going through something hard — the weight cuts, the grueling practices, the heavy lifts, the losses that hurt — remember you’re not doing it for nothing.
Every painful rep, every minute you keep going when your body says quit, is you multiplying your talent. Wrestling will give back — not just in wins on the mat, but in the kind of man it shapes you into.
The Self-Esteem Lie
This is where our culture gets it backward. The “self-esteem” gurus will tell you: “You’re perfect just the way you are.”
I love my boys no matter where they’re at in life — but real love doesn’t accept apathy.
True love says:
“I see who you could be… and I’m going to push you to get there.”
You are not okay staying where you are. You could become so much more. And if you don’t chase that better version, the world will never see the masterpiece only you can produce. Don’t take that masterpiece to the grave.
Success Compounds
The Matthew Principle is like compound interest. Once you start stacking discipline, skill, and wins — the growth multiplies. People start trusting you with more. Opportunities show up. Coaches, mentors, even strangers will invest in you because they see you’ve invested in yourself.
But if you refuse to develop your gifts? You’ll still have bills, taxes, and responsibilities — but no skillset to trade for the life you want. And life will take everything from you.
Why Sacrifice is Worth It
One day, wrestling will be over. The question is — will you leave it with nothing but a few memories… or with skills, discipline, and determination that make you valuable for the rest of your life?
You should want to be a man with discipline, integrity, and honesty. A man who works hard, loves hard, protects, and provides. Wrestling — when done right — is a training ground for exactly that kind of man.
So when you’re tempted to coast, to “bury your talent” by taking it easy, remember: the more you have, more will be given to you. Give wrestling everything you have. Let it multiply your gifts. And when the match of life starts… you’ll be ready.