God’s View on Competition: Part I

With dozens of toys on the floor, my grandson, Joey, was content playing with the one he had selected. That’s when Addy, my granddaughter, decided that all the other toys were not as appealing as the one Joey had.

Addy grabbed the toy away from him. If she could have talked, she would have proclaimed, “Mine!”

Galatians 5 teaches, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, and divisions.”

The list goes on, but notice rivalries and dissension come from the flesh. Many in business allow our flesh to drive us to unhealthy pursuits of more at the expense of others. Generosity and camaraderie are forsaken for success and power.

Contrarily, being led by the Spirit, as God calls us, gives us the freedom that the impulses of the flesh refuse us. No matter how appealing or seemingly successful rivalries and dissension may be, they are not of the Lord’s design.

God has an unconventional view on competition. He recognizes and through his word, explains the healthy way to compete. Join us in this series to learn more.

Questions For Reflection

• What is competition? Who are you in competition with? Do you like your competitors? Why or why not? How did you come to be in competition?
• What has competition got you in the past? Has it made you more successful? What are some productive results of competition?