You win. That makes you the Winner. I lose. That makes me the Loser...right?
...am I just a sore loser?
...or is there something about this voracious appetite to win that we need to reconsider?
Is there anything in the Bible that says
"competition" with each other is good? We compete with each other when we're playing games and sports...it's innocent enough, right? If it is, I'm sure this combative, antagonistic behaviour is endorsed in the Bible...so I ask...
...Who invented it?Definition of Competition:
- the act of competing; rivalry for supremacy, a prize, etc
- a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage
- Sociology. rivalry between two or more persons or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser.
When I look for the word "compete" in the Bible, I see phrases like, "They compete in the race to do evil" (Isa. 59:1) and "'Your leaders...compete in crime (Ez. 22:6)." I see that "Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness" in 1 Cor. 1:22. But is there anything good about competition?
The desire for competition in us comes from our sin nature, not God's divine nature. God didn't become bored one day and come up with an idea to bring evil into the world so that He could have a fight, and maybe win if He was lucky. It was not God's design that Satan rise up as a competitor for first place.
Where does the striving come from? When a spirit of competition rises up in us, who are we identifying ourselves with more? God? Or Satan? Read this about Satan's "loss":
"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on
the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.'"
(Isa. 14:11-13)
So if Satan invented the idea of competition, and we are to rid ourselves of these urges, how do we behave as though it does not exist?
First, there is room for
all of us in Christ. That means all of our gifts, even though they may seem similiar, are
unique. The room to spread out and grow is enormous and should not feel threatening to you as though you will become less because of their growth. Weakness becomes an honor, because of what Christ can do with it:
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
(2 Cor. 12:9)
Secondly, let's become aware of how we regard "competition" in our hearts today. Let's practise being content with second place:
"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God
picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense."
(Col. 3:12-13)
When turn our eyes to Jesus...look full in His wonderful face...the things of earth (winning?) will grow strangely dim...in the light of His glory and grace...
"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you...
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no
more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of
everything that can't be bought...
"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."
(Matt. 5: 4, 5, 9 MSG)
