Question 1

Can competition be good?

Accepted Answer

1 Corinthians 9:24Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!1 Corinthians 15:10Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.Competition can drive you to improve yourself personally and sharpen your skills. Paul is a good example of a competitive person whom God used to reach people with the Good News about Jesus and to plant churches throughout the world.

Question 2

When does competition become a bad thing?

Accepted Answer

2 Timothy 2:5Athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.Competition can be unhealthy when it causes you to sin by trying to win at all costs. When winning is everything, you almost always compromise your integrity.Genesis 4:4-8The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. . . . One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.Competition can lead to jealousy, anger, and bitterness. Cain let his gifts to God become a competition against his brother Abel. Instead of asking God what would make his gifts acceptable, Cain simply got angry and ended up killing his brother.Luke 18:11“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!’”Competition can lead to you to compare yourself with others. The Pharisee in this story saw his whole religious life as a competition—to show himself to be more pious than anyone else. This is pride, and pride always leads to trouble.Matthew 18:1-4About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” . . . Then [Jesus] said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”Competition can be a foothold for pride and jealousy because it often leads you to compare yourself with others. Everyone has equal worth in God’s eyes, and anytime you begin to think of yourself as more important or better than others, your competitive spirit is taking you in the wrong direction. When humility fuels your competitive nature, you give everything you have to doing your best, not besting others.Numbers 12:1-2While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them.Competition disrupts not only your relationships with others but also your relationship with God if it causes you to think you are entitled to something you don’t have. Miriam and Aaron, who were also leaders during the Exodus, were jealous of their brother Moses and were competing for his leadership position. They had an inflated view of their abilities. If you feel you are “entitled” to something, your competitive attitude is already misguided. You are in danger of pride which leads to damaging important relationships.

Question 3

Should Christians avoid competition?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 12:8-11Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men and instead asked the opinion of the young men. . . . The young men replied, “This is what you should tell those complainers who want a lighter burden: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Yes, my father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier!’”Misplaced pride and competitiveness can lead to reckless decisions that destroy families and more. In a bid to compete with the reputation of his father, Solomon, Rehoboam boasted of his mighty leadership. The people soon found another leader and the kingdom was torn in two!1 Corinthians 9:24, 27Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! . . . I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.Properly focused competitive drives can produce great results. Competition can be positive if you use it to drive you to be a stronger believer and better servant of Christ. But let that competition not be against others, which can lead to pride. Instead, compete against yourself and the standards to which God is calling you.1 Corinthians 15:10-11Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.Paul had a definite competitive streak, but he sought always to glorify his Lord rather than to assert his own superiority. Work hard. Serve well, Honor God in all things.

Question 4

People say I can be too competitive at times. How can I learn to lighten up?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, . . . Store your treasures in heaven, . . . Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”There’s nothing wrong with a competitive nature. Just make sure you are not competing for the wrong things with the wrong motives. Check your competitive nature before you no longer care if you hurt someone in the process.Colossians 3:23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.Remember that you are called to work hard to do your best, not to beat others. Your best honors the God who created you. If beating others is your only goal, it just honors yourself.1 Corinthians 15:57-58Thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.The ultimate and greatest victory you can achieve in life is winning eternal life through faith in Jesus. Keep your eye on that goal, and then you will be able to handle lesser victories or defeats with more grace.

Question 5

Why must I beware of competing with God?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 11:3-5, 8-9“Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” But the Lord . . . . scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.As absurd as it sounds, you can take such a high view of your own achievements and legacy that you point others to the importance of yourself or your organization or your community, and not to God as the Most High. When you build your own “Tower of Babel,” it is an act of competitive pride. Instead, ask God to work with you to accomplish the kind of triumphs that will truly last for eternity.

Question 6

How can a leader respond when others compete with him or her?

Accepted Answer

Numbers 12:1, 3-8Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses. . . . (Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.) So immediately the Lord called to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam and said, “Go out to the Tabernacle, all three of you!” So the three of them went to the Tabernacle. Then the Lord descended in the pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle. “Aaron and Miriam!” he called, and they stepped forward. And the Lord said to them, “Now listen to what I say: “If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. So why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?”Leaders are tempted to defend themselves when others compete with or attack them. Moses allowed God to vindicate his leadership. Rather than continually defending themselves, leaders trust God to validate their leadership.Mark 9:38-40John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.”Leaders must beware of the competition their followers feel on their behalf. The disciples did not want to permit others, who weren’t doing it exactly their way, to minister. But Jesus called them to celebrate instead of compete.Philippians 1:15-18It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.Paul refused to condemn those who were competing with him because he understood that while their motives were wrong, the Good News was still being preached—and that’s what ultimately mattered. Your goal is to work for God. Don’t let the actions or opinions of others throw you off course. God will work through you —in spite of them!