Valid & Sinful Competitiveness
Are we to be competitive toward others? One translation says believers are not to compete with one another (Phil 2:3, JB). If we understand being competitive as struggling against another to get an award that only one of us may have, then a case could be made that competitiveness could be a form of selfish ambition (Phil 2:3, LOP). It could then be viewed as a work of the sinful nature (Gal 5:20, Message). It might be seen as part of the sinful wisdom of this world (Jas 3:6, Message).
On the other hand, Christians are to have the ambition of trying to discern and do God’s will (2 Cor 5:9, LOP). We are even told to have the ambition of earning our living by doing what the Lord has made us responsible for doing (1 Thess 4:11, LOP). Perhaps, then, the issue isn’t competing with others for a job, purchase of a house, the heart of the person we believe we are to marry and other such things. Maybe the problem is in how we often compete.
For example, we do what we can, in our trial-and-error approach (Acts 16:6-8, Wuest), to determine God’s will for us. Hence, we give our best at a job interview having prayed that the Lord will show the interviewers who He wants for the position (Prov 21:1). We do our best but simply want His will to be done. Is this competing? I don’t think that is sinful competing. Maybe it is simply a needed way of trying to ascertain God’s will. This is not about a winner and a loser, where we want to be on top and receive all the accolades, but in doing our best and seeking God’s will. We simply want to be on the path He has selected for us. The same could be true of an athlete who is doing what he or she believes the Lord has called them to do, as well as they are able, then leaves the results to God.
We must avoid selfish competing but compete in a way that honors God’s will for our life.
Christians should accept those whom God has accepted.