Is God competitive? And Should believers be competitive?

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[color=olive][b]Is God competitive? And Should believers be competitive?[/color][/b]

[b][i]Hebrew 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[/b][/i]

[b][i]Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.[/b][/i]

[b][i]Ecclesiastes 9:16-18 Then I said: “ Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”[/b][/i]

When we look for scriptures to teach us about competition, we find racing to be what is written of the most. It is important to know that when racing you must pace yourself. The race that is mentioned in the Bible, is not a race that those who finish first are the winner. But one we should run with endurance, and the goal is to finish. Also notice in a race everyone is going the same direction, there is no flesh and blood to come up against. It is not like other sports, where one team is trying for a goal and people on the other team are trying to keep you from achieving that goal. This is a very important observation. In God’s race you are the only competition. Wisdom is a key factor. Wisdom will make the race easy, it will let you know how to avoid the hills. It will keep you from the ditches.

That wisdom that you will need is found in men that the world will not slow down and listen to.

So many people are running this race of life and trying to finish as a winner, they are leaving family and friends behind. When they arrive at the finish line they will see not only did they not win, but they have to hold the door for the people they left by the wayside. God’s wisdom is different from the world’s. His wisdom tells us He wants everyone of us to repent and love Him through His Son Jesus Christ. The world is telling us, be first to finish the race and do not let anyone slow you down. Do not let anyone get in your way.

All our lives we are taught to compete, be a winner, and the world’s way of winning, is when someone else looses. Someone else is made to feel unworthy. Someone else is made to feel worthless, when we win the world’s way. We even encourage our children in competition. We tell our children as they compete, “you’re smarter than them, you can beat them; you ‘re faster than them, you can beat them; you’re stronger than them, you can beat them; you can jump higher , you can beat them; you are so much better at what you do than anyone else so go show the world how much better you are.”

There is no competition with God. He does not have to compete, He knows everything that there is to know, He is creator of every good and perfect gift. He knows what you will do before you will even do it. He is everywhere all the time. He is so big you cannot go around Him or through Him. There is no reason for Him to compete.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we become a part of His Body. If all believers become like one in the same body, when we compete it is against ourselves. We must recognize this fact, and when we go to do anything, do it for the Lord.
If we will take the time in this life, slow down and see what we are doing to our children, our loved ones, our spouses and ourselves. We will see that we are trying to compete. If we strive for something better than the next person so we can show off. It is not the right reason. When we strive for something better so everyone will be better off that is the right reason. That is how God would like us to compete. Take your idea, or talent, or strength, or wisdom, and do something that will help others. When you take what you have been given and use it to help others God will give you the desires of your heart. He will reward you. He will bless you beyond what you could imagine.

It is good to know that when we accept Christ as our Savior, we do not have to win a race. But at that time we enter a race with other believers, all going for the same finish line, and if anyone needs help on the way, God’s way of competing in Christ is for us to stop and help. When you come to the knowledge of God’s word, you know you are a winner. You do not need to compete to prove it. Stand and smile until God says, “now it is time for you to shine.”

Compete God’s way and you are sure to win.

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