God’s View on Competition: Part II

Many of us were involved in team sports. Whether it’s basketball, football or soccer, two teams compete with the intent that one will win and the other will lose.

This can easily foster the viewpoint that our business lives must also be about a win/lose proposition. It’s easy to convince ourselves that God wants us to win every deal, forgetting that he is the Creator and Heavenly Father of everyone, not just ‘our’ side.

Joshua was headed to defeat Jericho when he happened upon an angel of the Lord. In Joshua 5:13, Joshua said, “‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’”

Joshua was the leader of God’s chosen people headed to the land promised to him by God and yet the angel was not ‘for’ him specifically. The angel answered only to God just as Joshua did.

We work for God, not the other way around. God chooses who is victorious for each opportunity in accordance with his plan. Our job is simply to obey, do our best, and sometimes to lose. And when we lose, still we must be faithful to the Lord as the future of not only our business but our lives rests in his hands.

Questions For Reflection

• What does winning look like in your business? What does losing look like? How have you benefited from a loss?
• If you treat the Lord as your ultimate authority for your business, how does it change your practices? If your business decisions will be held accountable by God, how do you need to change?