Our Struggle

Yesterday I confessed I essentially signed a non competition clause when I chose to follow Christ.  Thus placing myself under His guidance and authority.  However, it is so much more than that.

My husband and I are raising three incredibly different children. They do not look exactly the same. They don't process things the same.  And they each excel in something different.  They each enjoy their independence. They each respond to different forms of discipline.  And they each react differently to other members of the family.

So it is in the body of Christ.

Paul talks about being gifted by the Holy Spirit. Supernatural gifts to use in serving other believers. In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul discusses the need for diversity of gifts within the body.  And here is where that non competition clause comes back into play. Just as my 2 year old tries to best his older brothers, believers need to be cautious of competition.  Whether they are competing for the approval of God or of man, competition here can be harmful to the individuals as well as the whole body.  Essentially we should be helping one another rather than hurting one another, whether in word or deed.

Here are a few things from Colossians 4:2-6 that can help us keep perspective.

1. Devote ourselves to prayer.  Not something we should do out of religious duty but out of desired relationship. We should readily spend time persisting in prayer. Consistently meeting with Almighty God with a watchful mind and a heart of thanksgiving.


2. Live wisely. Spiritual wisdom comes from God alone. Job 12:13 (NLT), "But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his."  In order for us to live wisely, we must first spend time seeking wisdom from God, which points us back to 1.


3. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive. Our words, speech or account should be full of grace...kindness, thanks and goodwill.  They should also be attractive.  Full of tenderness that draws others to Christ, not ourselves. Which again takes us back to prayer.

Perspective is key when it comes to competition. Paul tells the church at Ephesus, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  As the church we need to begin seeing our brothers and sisters as family and not competitors. When we signed that non compete mentioned earlier, it wasn't just with God for headship but also with believers for the approval of God and of man.  There is nothing that one of my sons can or will do that will make him receive any more of my love than either of the others.  No matter how much they vie for my attention and approval, not one of them will receive more than the other.  So it is with the adopted sons and daughters of God.


What is direct, or indirect, competition doing to your relationship with Christ and with the church? Have you devoted yourself to daily communion with Christ?