Competition is wicked foolishness to God. Jesus did not uphold, possess, or esteem the virtue of competition. It is only a positive virtue in the eyes of this ridiculous world. However, when we aregiving credit to someone who has accomplished much we will mention their competitiveness as a mark of their greatness.
The competitive athlete. The competitive small business owner. The competitive politician. The competitive band. etc, etc. Competitiveness is rooted in primal insecurity within the souls of people. This insecurity is as old as the fall of man. It is one man’s need to prove himself better than another. Jesus taught the opposite. In fact, he taught us to especially love and serve those who were opposed to us! NEVER were we to prove ourselves superior to others. I have experienced the ill effects of competition in my own life. I’ve competed with others and won, but actually lost in the long run. I’ve also lost many competitions and been hurt in the process. One way or another I have hurt and been hurt because of competition. This is because it is not of God.
Now, I know this sounds crazy. How could I do what I do for a living and not compete? Up until a couple of months ago I would have said it was impossible. However, in March I was going through an extreme time of concern……..ok, WORRY about my life. I know I shouldn’t worry but sometimes it gets the best of me. During a particular bout with worry concerning my job I heard God speak to me. He said “I’VE NOT CALLED YOU TO COMPETITION, BUT I HAVE CALLED YOU TO BATTLE.” He began to show me how competition is the folly of this world. Then, he started to help me understand what it means to battle. We can successfully exist in this world and do our jobs. Even WIN at our jobs, but win with pure hearts and pure motives so that God alone is glorified. NOT us. I have much more to say about this that, I believe, would qualify it even more. However, I want to hear your thoughts on this. How do we function in a world bound in competition without engaging by it’s pathetic rules and standards?
Hunter
Connersvine
Thank you Hunter for your thoughts and insight on competition. I have “competed” for promotions,jobs and security in the past to make me feel better about myself. Upon reading what you wrote,and believe, it makes it easier for me not to worry,but believe in me. Thanks again Darin Edmonds
Thanks Darin. By the way, didn’t Chris and I do a great job posing for the picture above?
Hi Hunter-
I believe that it is impossible to function happily in this world bound in competition without being grounded in who we are…His kids…made in His image. And with who does God have to compete? It is the perpetual “keeping up with the Jones’” of this world. I believe that the KEY is to KNOW who we are in Christ, and you are absolutely right, we are to give the accolades and glory to Whom it is due…The Almighty God! I can just imagine that we are God’s chess pieces in mutliple games that He is playing with the angels…and you KNOW that God always wins at those games!!!
Be blessed, Hunter and Chris-
Joyce from Evansville
Chris’s arm must be the big one!!!!!!!!!!!
1 Samuel 17:47..”…for the battle is the LORD’s…” The whole Epic series by John Eldridge is about the battle we are in for our lives. We have been dropped in the middle of Act 3 and have no idea where we have been or where we are going. Yet society expects us to have everything under control and know what is going on, “play it cool”. Philippians 4: 6-7 in The Message says, “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” So should we worry about the competition, no. Should we worry about the battle, no. The call to battle is one of the hardest to hear, but also the most liberating.
I think that when we can view our lives on a battlefield rather than in a competition, the focus of our lives totally changes. In competition, we are looking only as far as the end of the contest, or maybe the next contest. We rely on what we can do in our own power. Competition is individual-based. In battle, we are constantly striving for the greater goal. Battles require everyone’s best effort, working together. And the focus is on winning the war, which is a much more final outcome than individual competitions. In the same way, we have to live our lives thinking about our end-goal: taking as many people to heaven with us as we can possibly manage, glorifying God all the way!
The interesting thing about competition vs. battle is the difference in the heart of the people involved. To lose a competition is to lose face–guilt, shame, self-derision… the negative emotions go on and on. The loss is very personal, because we invested so much of ourselves in it. It is easy to give up after you’ve lost a competition. On the battlefield, you may lose one battle, but the war goes on, and you will fight another day. While you might be discouraged after a loss, the rest of the army is counting on you showing up to the next battle and giving it your all.
What a great analogy, Hunter! Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
Tons of people wear different emblems or badges, to show they have been in battles.The battle is what gives them the right to wear the badge,with honor.Some of us have been pushed to the limit and can come out and tell a great story about it. So we can be blessed from what comes of these battles,it makes us who we are.I agree this is a cut-throat,polluted,trashed world,and people will stop at nothing to get where the think they need to be,they set their dignity aside and do whatever it takes. As for competing,I don’t anymore. It only leads to heartache,one way or the other. I’m just who I am.I just hold on tight to Him,and pray.When He brings me to a place I’m unsure of, I just hope that my actions will speak much louder than words,and realize He is (growing) me through what ever concerns me.Hold on tight or you may fall short.Thanks Hunter,great topic!
Hunter, thanks for this blog. It is so important that we understand how competition is not of God’s desire. I agree with the comments, its so true about how we may lose a battle, but the war is still going on, and we are still needed, our jobs are not through. Jesus wants us to be encourager’s, not competitors. Everything with prayer and petition is what I have to say to myself every day. By the way Hunter, see you tomorrow at the Connersvine concert in Tipton ! We can’t wait. Kim F.
Please tell me you didn’t search for that picture on the internet by usinig the keywords, “Manly Arms” or “Bulging Biceps”
To all Connersvine fans here on the blog, they were FANTASTIC in Tipton last night., the worship atmosphere, and the songs were great. I heard MANY compliments, and God really moved in that place. The whole band is so nice, and they really show that they love the Lord. Thanks again Hunter, Chris, and Connersvine for being so relaxed,and making us know that we were worshiping together , how awesome was that. Glad you enjoyed the food, and snacks, and I look forward to seeing you guys again at a show sometime soon. Thanks, Km
hmm interesting something i never thought of…i love when u do this.. i don;t in fact enjoy it, but i appreciate it..which means i don’t wanna hear it but i need to. So many time in my own life i compete with talented kinsmen and it alwyas seems iam the untalented one and until now i thought it was a competitive race, but my motive should be to glorify christ not myself.u have shared a powerful asspect of this situatuion, we must know we are doing it fpr HIS glory and not ouras.