An analyst on BBC radio interviewed a scholar on how competitors feel when they place in the Olympics. Obviously, the gold winners are ecstatic. Silver medalist fare the worst, thinking, "Wow, just a bit more and I could be on the top platform." Whereas the bronze medalists do fine thinking, "Wow, at least I am better than all those who didn't medal at all."
We live in a competitive culture. In sports, that's one thing. In life competition is another. In many cases we do have to compete. It's part of life. But when we take a competitive attitude into everything, we see others as obstacles rather than as people for whom Christ died and rose.
Christ is not clear about competitive sports but he is clear about life and the Christian's take on it.
[Jesus said,] "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:35 (NIV)
[Jesus said,] But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30 (ESV)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
Whose team will you be on today?
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