Today’s Scripture: Numbers 12:2; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 6:4
I’ve often wondered if competition should be found anywhere in the church. I’m not talking about activities like Bible quiz or other methods teachers use to encourage kids to learn. I’m referring to vying for positions of responsibility, or comparing one ministry or church to another.
Some Bible scholars believe Miriam felt threatened that Moses’ wife would become more influential than she was. This could have come from a heart of jealousy or from low self-esteem. If she and Aaron could bring their brother down, wouldn’t that raise them up? But in whose eyes, and for what purpose? Competition serves no one but the competitors.
Maybe we should follow the example of Kris Kringle in “Miracle on 34th Street.” He steered customers to Gimbels, Macy’s biggest competitor, where they would find better prices and selections. It wasn’t about winning. It was about what was best for the people. And Macy’s did win in the end because they put customers first.
When we complain, compare, or compete, someone else pays the price. We can claw our way to the top, or we can let others’ trust be the buoyancy that helps us rise. The second one is much easier on the fingernails.
- How competitive are you? What happens when you lose? Is it worth the cost?