Competition – the rivalry for supremacy – is a great joy to me. Whether a basketball game or a golf match…winning is everything. Is it not?! But the joy is oh so brief. Then I must move on to the next competition — so much effort for a few moments of joy.
Allowing the competitive edge to creep into my personal, relational, and professional life comes with a deep price. When cooperation, agreement and harmony are substituted for an adversarial position, discord is frequently the result. Interestingly, the joy is not brief…it is non-existent.
Could competition exist in my personal spiritual life? Impossible! Don't I always want Jesus to win in my life? Looking more closely, I realize that there is a battle – a competition. I seem to be fighting Jesus; oddly enough He is not fighting me. What I want – even in service for Him – wars with "Your will be done". But where is the joy of the win when I chose my way?
John the Baptist knew the battle. He also knew where to find the joy. He said to his followers … That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He (Jesus) must become greater, I must become less. (John 3:29b-30 NIV)
A low score in golf is still my goal and a win after a match feels better than a loss. Will you join me in learning the pleasure and contentment as we yield ourselves to Jesus?
Sharing the journey with you,
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