I would be interested on your take on competition. I have many Christian friends that avoid board games, swimming competitions, sports. They believe it is anti-Jesus to win at something. They describe a guilt at winning, which hurts another person they say. Love to hear your thoughts.
I would be interested on your take on competition. I have many Christian friends that avoid board games, swimming competitions, sports. They believe it is anti-Jesus to win at something. They describe a guilt at winning, which hurts another person they say. Love to hear your thoughts.
Paul constantly uses sports metaphors, telling us to run the race so as to win. That's certainly not an endorsement of Monopoly, but it's not the sort of thing he'd do if he thought competition was bad: quite the contrary, he'd go out of his way not only to avoid such metaphors but to actively caution against sports.
So I think these folks are well-meaning, but not applying the full counsel of God.
Also, we are to do everything with excellence. No one is doing anything entirely unique. To be the best at anything, you must necessarily be better than someone else. God doesn't say anything to suggest that's wrong: He says we're to excel, doing everything as unto the Lord to the best of our abilities and gifts. So we shouldn't focus on "self-esteem" like our culture does: we should focus on improving ourselves to be more and more like Him, and we should be grateful for whatever God gives us as the result.
We have taught our kids how to win graciously. And to lose graciously. Both are very important life skills to demonstrate it’s not all about you. And you were given talent by the grace of God!
I would be interested on your take on competition. I have many Christian friends that avoid board games, swimming competitions, sports. They believe it is anti-Jesus to win at something. They describe a guilt at winning, which hurts another person they say. Love to hear your thoughts.
Paul constantly uses sports metaphors, telling us to run the race so as to win. That's certainly not an endorsement of Monopoly, but it's not the sort of thing he'd do if he thought competition was bad: quite the contrary, he'd go out of his way not only to avoid such metaphors but to actively caution against sports.
So I think these folks are well-meaning, but not applying the full counsel of God.
Also, we are to do everything with excellence. No one is doing anything entirely unique. To be the best at anything, you must necessarily be better than someone else. God doesn't say anything to suggest that's wrong: He says we're to excel, doing everything as unto the Lord to the best of our abilities and gifts. So we shouldn't focus on "self-esteem" like our culture does: we should focus on improving ourselves to be more and more like Him, and we should be grateful for whatever God gives us as the result.
Think of it as contentment without complacency.
We have taught our kids how to win graciously. And to lose graciously. Both are very important life skills to demonstrate it’s not all about you. And you were given talent by the grace of God!
100% true.