Who Wins?
Competition is abundant in nearly everything we do. Athletes compete for a place on the starting team, and the team competes for a victory in every game. Then after the season, the top two teams compete for the championship. When that’s completed, the “analysts” compete for their view of the “what ifs” to triumph. In educational circles, students compete for acceptance, be it academically or socially. In the workplace, employees compete for advancement. In business, employers compete for increased income to support their business. Competition is everywhere, and everyone is a participant in the competition to some degree.
Unfortunately, we tend to create competitions where competition is neither desired nor allowed! For example, there is a phenomenon called “peer pressure.” Students must learn to deal with this reality beginning with their first exposure to other children and the competition that ensues from this phenomenon. Which one dresses the best; which one has parents with the greatest influence; who is the most talented; who is the better student in class; etc. All these areas and more become areas of competition for young students, and unless they are convinced that these are NOT areas requiring competition, the “winners and losers” routine will ill affect every one of the competitors! Who truly wins in such competitions? Would it not be better to have them working together toward a united end so that ALL would succeed and that no prejudice would follow?
The same is unfortunately true among brethren and the inspired writer to Corinth forbad it! Notice: When speaking about the church of Christ as being the “body of Christ,” Paul makes this statement: “For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12: 24:25). Read that passage again and note the absence of competition among the brethren!
So, “He’s better at this than he is,” or “She shows a better example than she does,” should never be made as if brethren compete in their activities of service for God! Instead, while the statements may well be true as a matter of observation, take the time to be as Aquila and Priscilla were with Apollos; take that soul aside privately and teach them the way of the Lord more perfectly (Acts 18:26). Being a servant of God is not a competition, but a work in which every Christian must be engaged, and thereby perfecting ONE ANOTHER (2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:11 – 16).
This principle is clearly described in Paul’s letter to Titus. Note chapter 2 where he tells the aged men to teach the younger men, and elderly women to teach the young women. There isn’t any competition found in this chapter, but instead a loving building up of one other, just as Jude described (Jude 20 – 23). If it were competition, imagine the resulting division.
Like anyone who enjoys seasonal sports (basketball, NASCAR, some football) and occasionally the events of competition children and grandchildren engage in (showing animals at the fair, fair queen competition, cross-country running, band competitions, etc.) I recognize the resulting thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. That’s the expectation of competition in such events. There must be a winner and a loser. But this is NOT the case with brethren and it must never be made the case!
Someone once said, “The Lord’s church is not a sanctuary for saints, but a hospital for sinners.” No passage of scripture will show that quotation, but there is abundant evidence this is the sentiment of the inspired writers of the New Testament. This is precisely why Jesus commanded, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) He never indicated any competition between those for whom His blood was shed. Romans 8:37 shows we Christians, ALL of us faithful ones, are winners and not losers! Why? Because there’s no competition but instead, an abundance of brotherly love!