Competition

 

Sometimes it’s good to reflect on your life.  As I’ve considered my years before I received Christ, there are many things I regret.  One of my most serious regrets is my competitive spirit.  You see, I loved playing with my younger brother.  I loved competing with Gordy.  When little, we would spend countless hours playing games of all sorts- action games, war games, and board games.  He was three years younger than me. Considering the age differential, it’s not surprising I won most of the time.  I loved winning.  I loved the feeling you get when you best someone.  My regret is that I rarely considered how it might have made Gordy feel.  I valued the competition over the relationship.  That is my big regret. 

This spirit of competition has continued to haunt me.  As a Christian I’ve honestly wondered how to integrate it with my walk with Christ.  Does the bible have anything to say to us who struggle with this issue?

In 1 Corinthians we pick up on an interesting drama.  The church at Corinth is becoming divided.  They have become loyal followers of well-known Christian leaders. (It sounds a bit like today).

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” (1 Cor 1:10-12)

 

The believers at Corinth were either loyal to Paul or Apollos.  They had established an environment of competition between the two.  It’s interesting to watch how Paul responds to this drama.

Apollos was a Hellenistic Jew from Alexandria- well educated and an eloquent orator.

Ironically Paul had played a significant role in Apollos’ growth in Christ.  When Paul established the church in Corinth, two of his first converts were Aquila and Priscilla. He stayed for 18 months or so and built them in the faith.  Later, they played a huge role in discipling Apollos.  So, you could say that Apollos was indebted to Paul for his spiritual development. (Acts 18)

Bottom line, Paul would have none of this competition.  In 1 Corinthians chapter three he lays out his argument:

1.       Paul doesn’t play the comparison game.

For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Cor 3:4-8)

 

Paul would not compete with Apollos.  He is pulling for Apollos.  They aren’t competitors, they are co-workers in the harvest.

2.      Paul doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him.

 

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. (1 Cor 4:1-3) 

3.      Paul doesn’t even judge himself!

But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. ( 1 Cor 4:3-4)

He makes an interesting observation. When he examines himself, he may feel innocent, but that doesn’t make it so.  He answers to a higher judge, the Lord.

4.      Paul lives for an audience of one. 

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. (1 Cor 4:4-5) 

Of course, Paul is not here referring to the Great White Throne Judgement in Revelations, which is the judgement of unbelievers. (Rev 20:11-15) Instead of The Great White Throne, Christians will one day stand before The Judgement Seat of Christ where our lives are evaluate by our Lord. 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.^[1] (2 Cor 5:10) 

For all who have received Christ as Savior and submitted to Him as Lord, His judgement is not an onerous one.  He is the one that loves us and died for us.  He has forgiven our sins and come to reside in our lives by His Spirit.  I trust His judgement, so did Paul.  How about you? 

Some final thoughts.  We can get caught up in all sorts of competition- at home, at work, at play, and even at church. If we follow Pauls’ example, we will avoid playing the comparison game, resist worrying about what others think of us, and we won’t judge ourselves.  Rather, we will live confidently under the Lordship of Christ and let Him evaluate our lives through the lens of His love and forgiveness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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^[1] All passages in this post were taken from New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)