Your Identity In ChristSample

Ungodly Competition

Being in Christ liberates us from ungodly competition and helps us celebrate others and their successes.

T-ball can turn into a game more about the individual kids than about the team. If you don't believe it, just watch a game. When a player gets a hit, all the defenders in the area will jump on it instead of allowing the player in the right position to get it. Sometimes they'll even argue over who had the ball first. Why? Because they haven't learned teamwork yet.

Often, in our lives, we engage in the same unhealthy competitiveness - we're just better at hiding it.

Competitiveness is not sinful, but the reason we compete can be. Are you motivated to encourage yourself and other Christians to be more faithful and fruitful for God's glory than ever before? Or do you discourage others from seeking God's best in their lives because you're jealous of their success?

Ungodly competition in the Christian life is when we compete against others. Being in Christ liberates us from ungodly competition and helps us celebrate others and their successes.

Read Ephesians 1:15-16

Paul set a great example for us. He was someone who could celebrate what God was doing in someone else's life. Did Paul compare the Ephesian's work to his own? (No. Paul didn't compare their work to his own or even mention his many accomplishments.)

What did Paul do as a result of hearing about their faith? (He celebrated the evidence of God's grace in their lives by unceasingly giving thanks.)

Do you celebrate the success of others?

Is God convicting you about anyone with whom you wrongly compete? Repent, and start celebrating what God is doing in his or her life.

Prayer

Pray for others in a way that celebrates their successes.